Kanchanaburi Attractions – What to See

Bridge over the River Kwai

This is the central historical attraction of the city and province. The bridge was built during World War II by soldiers of the Western Allied forces captured by the Japanese, as part of the strategically important railway to Burma. The tragic events at the prisoner-of-war camp during construction were later reflected in the novel and film "The Bridge on the River Kwai" in 1957. More about the Bridge over the River Kwai.

Thailand-Burma Railway Museum

The Thailand-Burma Railway Museum (also called the Death Railway Museum) is perhaps the most well-maintained and modern among all museums in Kanchanaburi. It is dedicated to the history of World War II on Thai soil and the construction of the railway and bridge. The museum's collection includes some artifacts, but the main part of the exhibition consists of interactive exhibits, films, documents, photographs, and information boards. More about the museum.

JEATH War Museum

The word JEATH in the museum's name is formed from the first letters of the countries involved in the bridge's construction: Japan (the initiator and main exploiter of prisoner labor), as well as workers and prisoners from England, Australia, America, Thailand, and Holland. The museum is small and contains a collection of personal belongings of prisoners; a shell that fell on the bridge and didn't explode; a gallery of paintings by prisoners depicting their conditions in the camp. More about the museum.

WWII Museum

Despite its name, the WWII Museum covers a bit of everything. It has artifacts from the pre-war period, wartime, a weapon collection, and a collection of paintings by Thailand's beauty pageant winners. Perhaps the greatest interest lies in World War II vehicles: a steam locomotive, motorcycles, cars, airplanes, and helicopters. From the museum's upper floor, there's one of the best views of the bridge over the River Kwai. More about the museum.

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery

The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery holds the cremated remains of 6,981 soldiers who died during combat or in captivity. About half of them are British, the rest are Australian, Dutch, and unknown soldiers.

Chongkai War Cemetery

Another memorial cemetery for military personnel and prisoners of war, much smaller than the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, is located outside the city, six kilometers from the center. A prisoner-of-war camp used to be on this land, and the prisoners themselves built a hospital and church here. It is also a place of remembrance for fallen British and Dutch soldiers, very quiet, well-maintained, and beautiful.

Japanese Army Monument

Even though the Japanese were invaders during World War II and caused the loss of many lives of Thai residents and Allied forces, a memorial monument erected by the Japanese themselves in 1944 stands in the very center of Kanchanaburi in memory of those who died during the construction of the bridge and railway. Every March, relatives and loved ones of the deceased gather here to honor their memory. There's not much for tourists to see here, but if you're walking along the city's main tourist street, you can stop by.

Kanchanaburi Night Market

If you don't yet know what night markets in Thailand are and why they're interesting to tourists, read this article "Night Markets of Thailand". Kanchanaburi also has a night market, although not as "touristy" as in other more popular resorts. It's located near Kanchanaburi's train station, and most of it is filled with typical consumer goods like women's clothing, t-shirts, and simple electronics.

But for foreign tourists, the most interesting part of the night market is traditionally the street food, which is abundant here. You can find everything from ready-to-eat rice dishes to fried insects. There are no tables to eat what you buy, so you'll have to eat on the go or back at your hotel. Alcoholic drinks are not sold here. There are no entertainment programs, just trading. More about the night market.

Souvenir Market

The souvenir market is one of the few places in Kanchanaburi city where you can go for "entertainment" during the day. It's a fairly large market where you can find a surprisingly large selection of souvenirs, many of which can only be bought here. Magnets with Kanchanaburi province symbols, t-shirts, baseball caps, musical instruments, notebooks, toys, bags, umbrellas – you name it. You can also find very specific souvenirs that are only made in this province. A special product at the market is jewelry and precious and semi-precious stones, which sellers claim are smuggled from Myanmar (formerly Burma). More about the souvenir market.

Old City Gate and Shrine

Several attractions are located in this spot: the old city gate, the main city shrine, a small park, and a pedestrian street. On Saturday and Sunday evenings, a night market operates here, though not as popular or crowded as the one near the train station. You can also take a walk along Parprak Street, where you can see several old colonial-style buildings. More about the city gate and shrine.

Cooking Classes

Another type of entertainment in Kanchanaburi is cooking classes. Of course, this isn't about a full curriculum, but a single paid session where you'll be taught how to cook authentic Thai dishes. It's a wonderful and interesting experience during which you'll learn to make the most famous Thai soup Tom Yum, spicy papaya salad Som Tam, or other dishes of your choice. However, this type of entertainment is best left for last, after you've seen all the most interesting attractions. More about cooking classes.

Erawan National Park and Waterfall

Erawan National Park is the most famous natural attraction in Kanchanaburi province, and perhaps in all of central Thailand. The park was founded in 1951 and covers an area of 550 square kilometers. But only a small part of it is of interest to tourists: the waterfall, jungle trails, and four caves, of which only one is open to visitors. The park is home to tigers, elephants, sambar deer, giant flying squirrels, king cobras, a huge number of monkeys, and other animals, but it's almost impossible to see them as they live in remote parts of the park where ordinary tourists cannot go. You can visit the following places here: Erawan Falls; Pha That Cave; and excursion trails. You can also stay overnight in a tent or bungalow in the park. More about Erawan National Park and the waterfall.

Sai Yok National Park

Sai Yok National Park is the second most popular national park among tourists in Kanchanaburi province. It is often visited from other resorts in Thailand as part of group tours to the River Kwai ("Paradise on the River Kwai" tours). During such tours, tourists stay in a floating hotel on the grounds and then raft down the river to Sai Yok Yai waterfall and sometimes visit La Wa Cave. Sai Yok covers an area of about 500 square kilometers. Its territory includes mountains (the highest is 1327 meters), dense jungle, and the River Kwai flows through it.

You can also visit the park on your own, including staying overnight in a bungalow, a floating hotel (from 800 baht per room), camping in your own tent (50 baht per day), or renting a tent and sleeping bags at the camp (300 baht). More about Sai Yok National Park.

Prasat Muang Sing Historical Park

Prasat Muang Sing Historical Park is the ruins of two Khmer temples built in the 13th and 14th centuries. Its architecture resembles the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia, especially the Bayon temple. This place will definitely appeal to history lovers and fans of ruins.

The complex grounds are quite large, covering 102 hectares, and are bounded by the remains of a wall. Inside are temple ruins, statues, Buddhist shrines, and a reconstruction of archaeological excavations of a burial site over 2000 years old with two skeletons, pots, and jewelry. More about the historical park.

Hellfire Pass Museum

The Hellfire Pass Museum is an open-air museum dedicated to the tragic events during the construction of the Thai-Burma Railway in World War II. Most of the dead were Thai people used as slaves, as well as Western Allied prisoners captured by Japanese forces. Together with the bridge over the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi city, these are the most important historical sites in the province, but unlike the bridge, this museum is much more interesting and informative. It consists of two parts: an indoor exhibition and an open-air museum. More about the museum.

Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple)

The Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) can confidently be called one of the most interesting and beautiful temples in Thailand, and definitely the most beautiful in Kanchanaburi province. It is large and multi-level, and there is even a funicular to go up, although climbing on foot isn't difficult. At the top is a large 18-meter-tall seated Buddha statue. Also, don't forget to find the entrance to the tiger cave itself. The cave itself is small and filled with shrines and tiger figurines. But the most interesting thing here is the mummy of a monk. It is in a sarcophagus in a separate pavilion, and the image from the sarcophagus itself is broadcast on installed monitors. More about the temple.

Tiger Temple

The famous Tiger Temple, known worldwide through television programs, where monks lived with tigers and allowed tourists to visit to interact and care for the big cats in exchange for donations, was closed by police in 2016. It turned out that the temple practiced animal cruelty, resulting in the deaths of young and adult tigers. Evidence found on site, including animal burial grounds, confirmed this. Currently, there are no more tigers, and the temple is not functioning.

Giant Rain Tree

This tree is believed to be over 400 years old. It's truly huge, not so much in height but in width: its branch span is about 40 meters! It's almost sacred to locals, and the flow of tourists here never stops, so fast food and souvenir stalls have appeared next to the tree.

Kra Sae Cave Temple and Dangerous Bridge

The Kra Sae cave and dangerous bridge are a unique and unusual place, definitely worth a visit. Here, the historic railway is laid along a steep, sometimes vertical cliff by the river. The rails are held on wooden piles and supports fastened with rusty bolts. But the most amazing thing is that a passenger train still passes over it six times a day. In between train movements, you can walk along the bridge on the sleepers, take beautiful photos of the river from the cliff (there are viewing platforms), and visit the temple in Tham Kra Sae cave. More about the cave temple and bridge.

Nam Tok Railway Station

Nam Tok Station is the last operating station on the historic Thai-Burma Railway. The station itself is not particularly remarkable; it's not even a historical attraction. However, the train journey from Kanchanaburi city to it is a unique tourist activity. Three regular commuter trains run daily on this route, taking 2 hours. During the journey, you get beautiful views of the River Kwai and nature. At the very beginning of the journey in the city, the train passes over the famous bridge over the River Kwai, then over the unique and dangerous Kra Sae bridge. Within walking distance of the station are the beautiful Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi waterfall and Sai Yok Cave. Also near Nam Tok are several floating hotels on the River Kwai where you can stay overnight. More about Nam Tok Station.

Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi Waterfall and Sai Yok Cave

This small, beautiful Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi waterfall is near Nam Tok railway station and is one of the most easily accessible in the province. It's located right by the road, with a parking area where tourist buses often stop with groups. Access is free.

A little higher up the cliff, two kilometers away, is Sai Yok Cave. It's also small and unequipped, but you can take a walk inside; however, you'll need a flashlight as there is no lighting inside. As of May 2018, the cave was closed. More about the waterfall.

Hin Dat Hot Radon Springs

Hin Dat Hot Spring (also Hindad Hot Spring) is an outdoor hot radon spring. The water is believed to have healing properties, but soaking time is limited because longer exposure can be harmful. There are three pools with different temperatures, as well as a separate pool for monks. A stream runs nearby where you can swim and wash off the radioactive radon water. There are also changing rooms, showers, and a restroom. More about the hot springs.

Stone Workshops in Kanchanaburi

Along Road 3199 on the way to Erawan Waterfall, there are many stone workshops. These are not artistic stone carving workshops, but manual production facilities that mass-produce the stone furniture, household items, landscaping elements, and statues for temples and shrines that Thais so love. You can freely stop at any of these workshops and walk around among the finished products and blanks, watching the manufacturing process. Surprisingly, all products are made without using machines, only with handheld grinders (angle grinders), hand polishers, hammers, and stone chisels. More about the workshops.

9-Army Historical Park

The 9-Army Historical Park is located on a historic site where one of the largest battles between Siam and invading Burmese forces (now Myanmar) took place during the Burmese-Siamese War of 1975-1985. The Siamese forces were then commanded by the first king of the current ruling dynasty – Rama I. Unfortunately, this place is difficult to call interesting for a wide range of tourists: it's not visually impressive, and information is only available in Thai. Essentially, you can only see a defensive watchtower, a battle map, a few statues, and cannons. More about the historical park.

Chao Pho Khao Kai Chon Shrine (Rooster Temple)

Chao Pho Khao Kai Chon Shrine (Rooster Temple) is a very sacred place for residents of the province and surrounding areas. For tourists, it's interesting because it's an unusual temple filled with rooster figurines, with live birds and even whole "chicken families" with chicks roaming the grounds. For Thais, the rooster is a symbol of wealth and success, which is why this temple is so carefully maintained and revered. It's not a place you should go out of your way to visit, but you can stop here on the way to Erawan Waterfall. More about the temple.

Wat Pa Lelai Temple and Ancient City Ruins

Wat Pa Lelai (also called Wat Pha Ok) is an ancient temple and ruins from the Ayutthaya period and architecture, remaining on the site of an ancient city that once existed here. The place is little-known among tourists and not marked on maps or in free guides, which is a shame. It's definitely worth a visit, especially if you love ancient ruins.

The best-preserved temple, Wat Pa Lelai, is clearly visible from the road, but if you go further in, you can see several more ruins of ancient temples, pagodas, and other structures, and further towards the river there are remains of a fort. More about the temple.

Chinese Temple Wat Tham Khao Noi

This Buddhist temple in Chinese style is located right next to the most famous and beautiful temple in Kanchanaburi province – Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple). Both temples even share a common wall, but it separates them so that you cannot go from one to the other, so you can only enter each through its own separate entrance from separate parking lots. Wat Tham Khao Noi is often overlooked in the shadow of its more famous neighbor, but if you've come to the "Tiger Cave," you should definitely stop by this Chinese temple as well. More about the temple.

Phrathat Cave

Phrathat Cave is part of Erawan National Park, but is located 18 kilometers from the park headquarters and the famous waterfall. It is huge and equipped with wooden walkways and bridges, but it's almost pitch black inside even when the lights are on (which they don't always turn on; you need to ask the ranger at the entrance). So bring a good flashlight, otherwise you'll have to hire a guide-ranger from the park at the entrance. A guide is not mandatory, and you can walk around on your own.

To reach the cave from the parking lot and ticket checkpoint, you'll need to ascend a long staircase, which will take about 30 minutes. More about the cave.

Srinagarindra National Park and Dam

This national park is also written as Khuean Srinagarindra National Park or SriNaKhaRin. The main feature of the park is the reservoir and the Srinagarind Dam. There are also several waterfalls and caves, the most famous of which are Huay Mae Khamin, Pha Sawan, and Pha Tat.

In addition to tourist hiking trails, there are cycling trails and several parking lots for cars or motorcycles. Most often, visitors explore the park in their own or rented transport, simply making stops and taking short walks, during which you can see the dam itself and the hydroelectric power station, and enjoy the views of the reservoir. More about the park and dam.

Ban Kao Historical Museum

The Ban Kao National Museum is located in a small provincial village where you wouldn't expect to see such a museum. It has a nice collection of artifacts discovered during excavations in Kanchanaburi province, most of which were found by prisoners of war during the construction of the Thai-Burma Railway in World War II. The exhibits date from prehistoric periods starting from the Stone Age. More about the museum.

Mallika R.E 124 Tourist Park-Village

This is a tourist park or attraction that recreates the atmosphere of a Thai city in 1905. In other words, it's something like an open-air museum, inspired by the traditional Thai city of the early 20th century in the Chao Phraya River basin, on whose banks Bangkok is located. They tried to recreate the architecture and atmosphere of that time, and in general, they succeeded. Even for payments inside the park for entertainment and food, you cannot use modern Thai baht; you'll have to exchange them at the entrance for antique satangs. More about Mallika Park.

Elephant Riding and Elephant Sanctuaries

Kanchanaburi is one of the places in Thailand where you can ride elephants or care for them. There are several farms here where tourists can ride elephants (as passengers, not mahouts). A ride will cost from 500 baht and up depending on the route. But the province also has unusual elephant places: Elephants World Kanchanaburi and Elephant Haven. These are sanctuaries for elderly and sick animals that have suffered from human actions or been injured in their natural habitat, where you can observe and care for them. More about elephant sanctuaries in Kanchanaburi.