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Tourist
Attractions
Internationally famous The Bridge over
the River Kwai was constructed by the
Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and supervised
by the Japanese army during WWII. The bridge was
a section of the ‘Death Railway’ intended
to link Thailand with Myanmar. Many Allied soldiers
died due to the harsh conditions. The railway
was never fully completed but is still in use
today.
Around town, there are many institutes
erected to honor those who perished during the
construction of the infamous bridge. The War
Museum is located near the River Kwai
Bridge and displays the collection of weapons,
tools and utensils used by the Allied POWs and
the Japanese during WWII. The JEATH War
Museum, a collaboration among Japan,
England, US, Australia, Thailand and Holland,
resembles an Allied POW camp. The thatched huts
contain bamboo bunks and memorabilia from the
war. The peaceful and beautifully tended Kanchanaburi
War Cemetery contains the remains of
nearly 7,000 POWs who perished during the construction
of the ‘Death Railway’. The Chong
Kai War Cemetery is located on the bank
of the Kwai Noi River at the site of the former
war camp. It is more peaceful, has a more scenic
view and contains the tombstones of nearly 2,000
POWs.
The 7-tiered Erawan Waterfall,
dropping through a series of cascades and shady
rock pools, is regarded as one of Thailand’s
loveliest falls. It is located within the lush
forest of the Erawan National
Park, the nearest park to the provincial capital.
A pleasant, but strenuous 2-km hiking trail ascending
beside the falls provides a challenging activity.
A large limestone cavern, Tham Wang Badan,
is situated on the west side of the park and contains
many colorful stalactites and stalagmites. Camping
facilities and trekking trails makes it easier
to appreciate the local flora and fauna.
Sai Yok was the site of a large
Japanese army barracks and POW labor camp during
WWII. Nowadays, the Sai Yok National Park
is renowned for its tranquil river scenery and
impressive falls. The most popular attraction
is Sai Yok Yai Waterfall where
the water tumbles directly into the Kwai Noi River.
The Sai Yok Noi Waterfall is
closer and can be reached by train from town.
Simple park bungalows and houseboats are available
for accomodations.
The Lawa Cave and Daowadung
Cave are both situated beside the Kwai
Noi River, accessible only by boat. The dark caves
offer an exciting adventure and house numerous
beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, as well
as the world’s smallest mammals, the 3-cm
long bats.
Discovered by a Japanese soldier
during WWII, the Hin Dat Hot Spring
is a pond for bathing beside a stream. It is near
the entrance of the Pha Tat Waterfall,
a huge fall easily accessible by all, located
north of the provincial town.
The Prasat Muang Sing
Historical Park in Sai Yok District north
of town is an ancient site on the banks of the
Kwai Noi River. The main structure, the Khmer
Prasat Muang Sing (Tower of the City of Lions)
is believed to be the westernmost outpost of the
Angkor-centered Khmer Empire. Temple carvings,
religious statues and other artifacts indicate
the city flourished during the 12th-14th centuries.
The main attraction of the isolated trading town
of Sangkhla Buri is its serene
lakeside location on the Thai-Myanmar border.
The town is populated by Thais and Mon and Karen
tribepeople. The northern shore is dominated by
the unusual chedis of Wat Wanwiwekaram.
The daily market besides the temple sells interesting
goods from Myanmar, Indonesia and other places
early every morning. Slightly north of town is
the infamous Three Pagoda Pass
with 3 whitewashed chedis sitting right on the
Myanmar border. During WWII, the Burma-Siam Railway
passed through here. Nowadays, it exists as a
trading and smuggling route between the Indian
Ocean and mainland Southeast Asia. Visitors can
usually obtain a one-day visa to visit the neighboring
Burmese town.
Within town, the 2 adjacent temples of Wat
Tham Sua (Tiger Cave) and Wat
Tham Khao Noi (Small Hill) house very
beautiful Thai and Chinese style buildings and
a huge Buddha image situated on the mount. Further
upriver, Wat Tham Khao Pun overlooks the river
and the Burma-Siam Railway. Within the temple
grounds is a network of narrow passages that leads
to a brightly lit cave system filled with Buddha
images.
The beautiful and isolated Chalerm Rattanakosin
National Park is one of the nation’s
smallest park. The main trail runs beside a stream
which passes through the cavern Tham Than
Lot Noi and emerges in a thickly forested,
steeply sloped ravine. The path continues for
2,500 m, climbing steeply beside the Trai
Trung Falls to another cavern, Tham
Than Lot Yai, which contains a small
Buddhist shrine.
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