Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi is a city in Kanchanaburi province in Thailand, South Asia. The city is most famous as the location of the Bridge on the River Kwai - a piece of the World War II Japanese "Death Railway" and the subject of the 1957 film of the same name starring Alec Guinness and Richard Holden (though the film was shot in Sri Lanka). During World War II, the Japanese, with whom Thailand sided, forced about 16,000 prisoners of war and 50,000 to 100,000 civilian slave laborers from neighboring countries to construct the "Death Railway" - a supply route through the jungles of Thailand and Myanmar. It's estimated that one person died for every railway tie that was laid. Sure-footed visitors can walk across the Bridge on the River Kwai, of which the arched portions are original. In December there's a big fair with a sound-and-light show depicting the Allied bombing of the bridge. Next to the bridge is a plaza with restaurants and souvenir shops. Set in a landscape of limestone hills just 120km from Bangkok, the provincial capital of Kanchanaburi occupies a scenic spot at the point where the River Kwai Noi merges with the River Kwai Yai to become the Mae Khlong. When visiting Kanchanaburi it is advisable to plan your visit with 2 things in mind. The first is that if you wish to see the annual festival of the bombing of the nearby bridge over the River Kwai in the end of November, you should plan ahead as it is the most visited event in the city. If you visit the city at another time, you will have much more freedom to scroll the places related to WWII, while having the opportunity to visit many of the interesting landmarks outside of Kanchanaburi. If you’re spending a couple of nights in Kanchanaburi consider taking a day trip to Erawan National Park. Easily reached by bus the park sits in the middle of thick jungle and contains a series of small waterfalls descending a hill and flowing into a series of pools. It’s a delight to swim in the cold clear pools as an antidote to the thick tropical heat. Outside of Kanchanaburi the unique Jungle Rafts Hotel lies on the River Kwai about two hours by boat from nearby Pak Saeng (reached by car or bus from Bangkok). Built on the edge of the river the hotel provides a perfect base from which to tour caves take walks in teak and bamboo forests swim in the river see picturesque waterfalls and wild orchids and indulge in either western or Thai food. Plan two nights if time permits. And don't forget - there are tons more of attractions, activities and interesting places to see in Kanchanaburi, visit them and write here at HolidayStreets.com about their beauty and mystery!