Kanchanaburi is a popular tourist destination for locals and international visitors in Thailand. It has amazing landscapes and natural beauty to explore. There are many beautiful places to relax and enjoy such as awesome waterfalls, hot springs, national parks, temples, and museums. If you are a history and nature lover you should not miss the attractions in Kanchanaburi.
The province has a rich history, from the World War II era, the Japanese built the death railway forcefully that took away thousands of innocent lives. You can see the memories of the incident at the museums in the province. So, plan your trip now with our list of best tourist attractions in Kanchanaburi.
1. Erawan National Park
2. Death Railway and Museum
3. Sai Yok Waterfall
4. Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum
5. Thai Burma Railway Center Museum
6. JEATH War Museum
7. Chung Kai War Cemetery The POW Graves
8. Train at Tham Krasae Bridge
9. Tham Phu Wa Temple
10. Kaeng Lawa Cave Kanchanaburi
11. Hin Dad Hot Spring
1. Erawan National Park
Erawan National Park is the most popular tourist attraction in Kanchanaburi Province. It is an amazing park offering a variety of beautiful attractions to behold such as Erawan waterfalls, limestone mountains, caves, lush green forest, exotic wildlife, small lakes, and much more.
The breathtaking seven-tiered Erawan Falls are the highlight of the Erawan National Park. It is the major attraction that attracts tourists to the park. The water flows down the mountains, surrounded by lush greenery and mountains. If you love adventure you can go hiking and explore the hidden caves and exotic animals. Erawan National Park is so huge and a wonderful natural place that it can make every kind of visitor happy for a long time.
2. Death Railway and Museum
One of the most famous attractions in Kanchanaburi is Death Railway Bridge. The bridge has a pivotal role in the link between Thailand and Burma. It is the star attraction of Kanchanaburi also known as the “Bridge on the River Kwai” It was constructed through the forced labor of British Dutch and American prisoners of war during World War II. The bridge is named Death Railway after the number of men who died during its construction. It is a well-known historical landmark in Kanchanaburi.
The Death Railway Museum was built to tell the real story and history of the railway construction. It is an important place that exhibits the pain and letters of the prisoners. You will find true facts and figures related to that tragic incident in history.
3. Sai Yok Waterfall
Sai Yok waterfall is another attraction for tourists that lies in the Sai Yok Yai National Park. You can swim in the river or dive from the rocks. The falls are beautiful and are worth visiting. It has three beautiful waterfalls, two inside the park and one just outside the entrance, the highest waterfall. The dense forest around the pool makes a peaceful spot for you to swim and refresh. You can enjoy swimming in the pool and admire the beauty of the falls.
4. Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum
It is an important museum in Kanchanaburi and an attraction for locals and tourists as it provides a lot of information about the horrifying events of World War II. The museum was built with aid from the Australian Government. It is a modern museum that provides its visitors with an audio tour of suggested personal stories of the people who survived the war. It is a museum worth visiting.
5. Thai Burma Railway Center Museum
Thai-Burma Railway Museum is located in Kanchanaburi. It is a nice attraction for everyone because it provides ample information about the War and the suffering of prisoners. It is not only a museum but a research and information center that showcases the history of World War II as well as the information, photographs, geography, living conditions in POW camps, construction processes, and deaths of laborers. If you are interested in history, you should definitely visit one of these museums to get a better insight into history.
6. JEATH War Museum
The JEATH War Museum is located inside the Wat Chai Chumphon Temple. The museum was built in 1977 and provides history and facts about how the railway was built. The JEATH War Museum depicts the number of nationalities working on the construction of a tragic railway, namely Japan, England, Australia, Thailand, America, and Holland. The museum comprises 2 sections, one part describes the construction of the railway, and the second part displays the conditions of the Prisoners of war, weapons, maps, and used materials. You can also see their pictures and read stories of the tragic incident.
7. Chung Kai War Cemetery The POW Graves
Chungkai War Cemetery is located just outside Kanchanaburi at the point where the river Kwai divides into two separate rivers. It is open for visitors every day. The men who died while working on the infamous Thai/Burma railway construction were buried in Chung Kai war cemetery.
The cemetery is located on the same spot where the prisoners of war POW camp was built during the construction of the railway. There are 1,740 graves of POWs in Chungkai of which 1,384 are British and 313 Dutch, and no Australians buried in Chung Kai. The War Cemetery is the authentic burial place used by the prisoners where dead prisoners were buried. The cemetery provides an in-depth history and brutal conditions of the prisoners and forced laborers who built it. Chungkai War Cemetery is another attraction for tourists and if you are in Kanchanaburi you must visit it.
8. Train at Tham Krasae Bridge
Tham Krasae Bridge Railway is part of the Thai-Burma historic railway built by the Japanese army during World War II. Thousands of laborers died during its construction, that is why the line is known as the death railway. Tham Krasae Bridge was an uphill task of the project.
It stretches 400 meters of a dangerous narrow extension between a vertical cliff and the bank of Kwae Noi River. It is a wonderful creation by 2000 pows and local slaves in just 17 days. The views of the mountains and River Kwai are stunning. It is a good attraction for tourists to travel by train from Nong-Pladuk to see the astonishing Tham Krasae Bridge.
9. Tham Phu Wa Temple
Tham Phu Wa Temple is one of a kind and astonishing temple. It is a big attraction for tourists in Kanchanaburi because of its unique architecture. It depicts the influence of Khmer and Lop Buri arts. Wat Tham Phu is famous for its cave. The temple is beautiful and interesting as it has stalactites inside the cave where the Buddha images are enshrined. It is also a well-known meditation center where locals and foreigners go for meditation.
10. Kaeng Lawa Cave Kanchanaburi
If you love nature and adventure, you must visit Kaeng Lawa Cave Kanchanaburi, located in Sai Yok Park. You will see four amazing caves inside the park: Dao Wading, Lawa Cave, Kang Kao, and Wang Badan. To get to Kaeng Lawa Cave you need to go on a boat, it is the most charming cave in the park, with a narrow entrance and huge chambers.
It is an adventurous journey to reach there and see wild animals including snakes and bats so you have to be careful and must bring a torch or a headlamp. It is recommended to go there with a travel guide, to ensure your own safety. It is a nice attraction for people who love adventure.
11. Hin Dad Hot Spring
Hin Dad is a natural hot spring in Kanchanaburi Province. It is filled with minerals that cure various diseases. The water is really good that you feel relaxed after swimming in it. It is natural hot water at 45 to 55 degrees Celsius, and it is believed that these hot springs contain healing power to the human skin and body. Visitors come here to take a bath in mineral water as it is beneficial for a healthy body and relieves bone pain, muscular aches, and enlarged pores of the body.
Hin Dad hot springs were discovered by Japanese soldiers during world war II. It was a natural hot spring with an underground natural fountain flowing throughout the year. It has three cement ponds with different heat levels. The hot spring area is surrounded by shady trees and situated close to a cold water stream with the walkway. If you do not like to swim in hot water, you can swim in the stream. Undoubtedly it is a popular tourist attraction in Kanchanaburi.