Showing 1-10 of 10 results
-
Allied War Cemetery
Directly across the street from the museum is the Allied War Cemetery, a fitting memorial to the POWs who died building the railway. The lovingly tended grounds is the final resting place of only a small portion of the total number of prisoners who died during the construction of the railway. It is estimated that more than 100,000 men died, 16,000 of whom were Western POWs, mainly from Britain and Holland.
-
Chung Kai Allied War Cemetery
This former prisoner-of-war camp is now a memorial cemetery that sees fewer visitors than the more central Allied War Cemetery. The burial plaques at this cemetery carry names, military insignia and short epitaphs for Dutch, British, French and Australian soldiers.
-
City Pillar
Like many older Thai cities, Kanchanaburi has a City Pillar denoting the originally town centre and providing shelter for the city spirit. The bulbous-tipped pillar is covered with gold leaf and is much worshipped. Within sight of the pillar, towards the river, stands Kanchanaburi's original city gate.
-
Death Railway Bridge
This little railway bridge is not nearly as impressive in person as the dramatic story that made it famous. The materials for the bridge were brought from Java by the Imperial Japanese Army during its 1942-43 occupation of Thailand. The first version of the bridge, completed in February 1943, was all wood. In April of the same year a second bridge of steel was constructed.
-
Jeath War Museum
The worn but heart-felt Jeath War Museum, on the grounds of Wat Chaichumphon (Wat Tai), is worth visiting just to sit on the cool banks of Mae Nam Mae Klong and to witness the genuine concern modern-day Thais feel toward the suffering that occurred on their soil. The museum is a replica of the bamboo- atap huts used to house Allied POWs during the occupation.
-
Thailand-Burma Railway Centre
The well-designed Thailand-Burma Railway Centre is the best place to start your exploration of Kanchanaburi's role in WWII. The museum succeeds in its aim to offer a non-partisan explanation of the Japanese occupation of Thailand, the reasons for building the Thailand-Burma railway, the technological impediments to its construction, the harsh working conditions, and the state of the railway since the end of the war.
-
Wat Tham Khao Pun
Another kilometre beyond Chung Kai Allied War Cemetery is the quiet cave temple Wat Tham Khao Pun, filled with shrines to the Buddha, Hindu deities and Thai kings that attract a trickle of pilgrims from around Thailand. The cave complex is fairly extensive and more interesting to explore than similar caves at Wat Tham Seua.
-
Wat Tham Mangkon Thong
The 'Cave Temple of the Golden Dragon' has long been an attraction because of the 'floating nun' - a mâe chii (Thai Buddhist nun) who meditated while floating on her back in a pool of water. The original nun passed away, but a disciple continues the tradition - sort of. The current floating nun does not meditate but instead she strikes Buddha-like poses based upon traditional mudra (ritual hand movements). Shows do not have a set schedule but instead are timed for the arrival of tour groups.
-
Wat Tham Seua & Wat Tham Khao Noi
Built on a ridge over looking a patchwork of fields and forests, these adjacent hilltop monasteries are important local pilgrimage spots, especially for Chinese Buddhists, and are just high enough above the ground to put the faithful closer to heaven.
-
WWII Museum
Despite what the sign out front says, the WWII Museum, unlike the Jeath Museum, is a monument to kitsch, with a random and almost ridiculous collection of stuff inside. The larger, more lavish of the two buildings contains Burmese-style alabaster Buddhas and a phrá khrêuang (sacred amulets) display. Upper floors exhibit Thai weaponry from the Ayuthaya period, ceramics and brightly painted portraits of all the kings in Thai history.
-
Advertisement
Showing 1-10 of 10 results
