The Top 5 Things To Do And See In Kanchanaburi, Thailand

About an hour outside the city, Erawan National Park is a waterfall oasis. With seven levels of waterfalls to explore, you can spend an entire day climbing from one awe-inspiring waterfall to the next, each one almost more breathtaking than the previous. There are also caves, hiking trails and emerald pools to explore along the way.

A railroad route carved to make way for the treacherous Thai-Burma railway is a constant reminder of the dark history Kanchanaburi has. The Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum is both a tribute to those who suffered building the railway as well a historic goldmine for all who visit it. Allied prisoners of war and hundreds of thousands of Asian workers were ordered to build a rail route to Myanmar by Japanese forces during the WWII. Its looming walls are scored with the hammer and drill marks of the prisoners forced to cut through the mountainous terrain.

After seeing Hellfire Pass for yourself, head to the Death Railway Museum to further your knowledge on both the construction of the railway as well as the war itself. You can also explore the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, or Don Rak, which is just across the way from the museum. Here is where thousands of victims of the Thai-Burma railway are remembered.

Built by the same prisoners who cut through Hellfire Pass, the bridge that crosses over the beautiful Kwai Yai River is yet another reminder of Kanchanaburi’s dark past. The bridge itself is a major tourist attraction and for good reason — the bridge, though built under terrible circumstances, is surprisingly beautiful, overlooking riverside restaurants and lush, green banks.

If you are not a history buff, be sure to visit the stunning Wat Tham Sua. About an hour outside of Kanchanaburi, this quiet, less visited temple is off of the usual tourist itinerary. This will be a refreshing change of pace, considering Thailand’s most notorious temples are usually packed with tourists. Be warned: the climb to the top of the temple is a long one, but the view waiting for you at the top is surely worth the workout.