24/08/2024
We would like to recommend some travel spots in Kanchanaburi for friends, tourists, or anyone planning to visit. Which all attractions you can do yourself in one day
🚂 Start by taking the train from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok station, passing through the Krasae Cave Bridge. 🌉
Then, take a songthaew (local truck) from the station to the Hellfire Pass Museum and walk through the cuttings to Hin Tok. 🛤️
Make a stop at Wat Putha Khian to see the railway and remaining sleepers.
Afterward, continue to Sai Yok Noi Waterfall and check out the steam locomotive. 🚂
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before catching the train back to Kanchanaburi. 🍲
Finally, take a boat ride to Chong Kai War Cemetery, visit the JEATH War Museum, and return to Kanchanaburi. 🛶
The train ticket from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok Station costs 100 THB, with departure times at 06:15 and 10:44. During the journey, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery, with the highlight being the Krasae Cave Bridge.
Upon arriving at Nam Tok Station, you’ll find songthaew (local truck taxi) services. You can inform them of your travel plans, but we recommend visiting the Hellfire Pass Museum. The songthaew fare is typically a negotiated flat rate, and the drive from Nam Tok Station to the Hellfire Pass Museum takes approximately 30 minutes.
Once you arrive, the museum staff will provide details to visitors. If you choose to walk to the cutting and Hin Tok Station, the staff will provide a walkie-talkie for safety. Afterward, you’ll begin your descent to the cutting and then continue to Hin Tok Station. If you reach Hin Tok Station, you can arrange for the driver to pick you up there, saving you from the need to walk back to your starting point. The flat-rate fare for a songthaew (local truck taxi) is 800-1000 THB.
Hellfire Pass Museum: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ezbZs3iigXu4HVTt5?g_st=ic
After the driver picks you up, head to Wat Phutakien, a temple located on the way back to catch the train to Kanchanaburi. Once you arrive at the temple, take your time to explore the surroundings. The highlight of this stop is the remnants of railway tracks and sleepers that date back to the period before World War II.
Wat Phutakien:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GFxMiYL1p4ktKt376?g_st=ic
After exploring the temple, return to Nam Tok Station. But before stop to Sai Yok Noi Waterfall and check out the steam locomotive.
If you have time before the train arrives, you can grab a meal or snacks from the restaurants and shops near the station. When the train arrives, board it for your return journey to Kanchanaburi, with the ticket priced at 100 THB, just like before.
After arriving in Kanchanaburi at the River Kwai Bridge Station, you can look for long-tail boats docked at the pier near the bridge. The boat drivers will ask about your travel plans and where you'd like to go. We recommend visiting the Chong Kai War Cemetery, the JEATH War Museum, and Chongkai Cutting and Coffee Lookout. The boat tour typically costs around 1,000-1,200 THB.
We begin the boat trip by heading to the Chong Kai War Cemetery.
The Chong Kai War Cemetery is one of two war cemeteries in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, dedicated to the Allied prisoners of war (POWs) who lost their lives during the construction of the Death Railway in World War II. Located along the banks of the River Kwai, this cemetery is more serene and less visited than the larger Kanchanaburi War Cemetery in town. Chong Kai was originally the site of a POW camp and hospital, and many of the men buried here were those who died in the camp itself. The cemetery is meticulously maintained, with rows of simple white headstones marking the graves of nearly 1,800 POWs, primarily from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Australia. The peaceful surroundings make it a poignant place for reflection on the tragic events of the past.
Chong Kai War Cemetery: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4SB6vtEf5u3hB4xr9?g_st=ic
After exploring the cemetery, we continue our journey to the JEATH War Museum.
The JEATH War Museum, located in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, is a sobering reminder of the harsh realities faced by POWs during the construction of the Death Railway in World War II. The name JEATH is an acronym representing the nationalities involved in the construction: Japanese, English, Australian, American, Thai, and Holland (Dutch). The museum is housed in a bamboo hut, similar to the type of accommodations used by the POWs, and it contains photographs, drawings, and artifacts from the period. The museum’s exhibits offer a glimpse into the brutal conditions endured by the prisoners, including malnutrition, disease, and forced labor. The museum also highlights the resilience and camaraderie of the POWs who, despite their suffering, managed to create a sense of community. Visiting the JEATH War Museum provides a deeper understanding of the historical events that took place in this region and the human cost of war.
JEATH War Museum: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zNMffkoNX7XYuxCy7?g_st=ic
