Where is kwai

A rail link would be a crucial part of their campaign. Construction began in September and Japanese engineers estimated it would take five years to complete the project. Work began at either end of the route and just 16 months later the two teams met in Kanchanaburi Province , 37 km 23 miles south of the border crossing at Three Pagodas Pass.

To realise their ambitions in record time the Japanese had brought in , forced workers, mainly local slaves and Allied POWs, and provided them with only simple hand tools. The first wooden bridge was finished here in February and the concrete and steel version was completed in June of the same year. The strategic importance of the bridge meant that it was a prime target for Allied bombing raids, which unfortunately prolonged the suffering of POWs who had to make the repairs.

My grandfather was one of the many prisoners who worked on the infamous Burma-Thailand Railway, but I am happy to say that he was one of the lucky ones and still lives in Oxfordshire not far from our office.

Their job was to keep turning the handle of the generator which was supplying the light so that the men could continue construction throughout the night. It was long and exhausting work, but Will recounts that talking to Alec about his home in Banbury, Oxfordshire, helped to pass the hours.

By the end of the shift they had agreed that if they survived the war Alec would send Will some Banbury cakes, and Will would treat Alec to a Thames Valley lardy cake.

It stops at Bridge River Kwai for 10 minutes. Tourists can use this time to sightsee and take photographs. The train further passes through the old POW camps. This train journey allows tourists to see the famous Bridge River Kwai and the historical places as well as enjoy the bewitching beauty of the rugged mountainous region.

If you are planning to stay in Kanchanaburi and visit nearby places, hiring a tricycle is the ideal choice. However, make enquiries regarding the rates and conditions at Tourism Authority of Thailand office in Kanchanaburi, to avoid being duped Kanchanaburi. Bridge over the river kwai map Kanchanaburi Thailand. War Cemetery Kanchanaburi Thailand. Thailand Travel Guide: No related posts. Things To Do In Thailand. David Lean's famous film The Bridge on the River Kwai centres around one of the line's main engineering feats, the bridge across the Kwae Yai river just north of Kanchanaburi.

For anyone interested in 20th century history, a visit to Kanchanaburi and the infamous Death Railway is a must. For example, take the morning train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi on day 1, stay a night or two in Kanchanaburi, then take the afternoon train back on day 2 or 3, and visit Hellfire Pass less well known than the Bridge, but not be missed and ride the Death Railway over the dramatic Wampo Viaduct as far as its current terminus at Nam Tok.

See interactive map of Bangkok-Kanchanaburi-River Kwai railway , zoom in to see detail. How to get there. What to see around Kanchanaburi. The Bridge on the River Kwai. The Wampo Wang Po Viaduct. Hellfire Pass Konyu Cutting. Suggested itineraries. Watch the videos. Train travel in Thailand. Map of train, bus, ferry routes in Southeast Asia.

It's more appropriate - and much more fun - to take the train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and the Bridge on the River Kwai using the Death Railway itself. No reservation is necessary, they cannot sell out, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on any time before it leaves. In fact, sitting next to an open window whilst clickety-clacking through the Thai countryside is easily the most pleasant way to reach Kanchanaburi. There's no buffet car, but vendors walk up and down the train selling soft drinks and pre-packed fruit and food.

The slices of Pomelo are lovely, not too sweet and not too sour. At weekends there's also a tourist day excursion train. Just remember the trains from the South can be 20 to 40 minutes late or more, so don't plan any tight connections. Map of train routes in Southeast Asia. Billed as the Trans-River Kwai Death Railway it's exactly the same as the regular baht cars, but you get a seat cushion, small boxed snack, water and a certificate. You buy tickets from a special booth at the opposite end of the platform from the regular ticket office, next to the Tourist Police booth.

There's one other way to visit the Bridge on the River Kwai, and it's the luxury option. For this luxury option, see www. Kanchanaburi - this is the area's main town, with Allied war cemeteries. Most hotels are located here. The Bridge On the River Kwai - the Bridge is 5 km beyond central Kanchanaburi, and is now surrounded by cafes, shops and small museums. You can walk over the Bridge watch out for trains!

Wampo viaduct Wang Po - also built by prisoners of war, and also still in use by regular passenger trains. Here there is a museum, and a 7 km stretch of the trackbed beyond Konyu Cutting has been cleared of jungle by the Australian government as a memorial, of which 4 km is currently open to the public.

You can walk this 4 km section if you like, a moving and highly-recommended experience. The Japanese used Thai forced labour to construct the section from Nong Pla Duk to Kanchanaburi, and Allied prisoners of war for the section from Kanchanaburi onwards to Burma. The line was completed in , and like all the railways in Burma and Thailand, it was built to the metre gauge, much narrower than European standard gauge. Remembering the past in modern-day Kanchanaburi.

Riding the Death Railway today. Give us feedback. Read Next View. Luxury Pool Villa 6BR. Villa Splash at Lime Samui. Grand Condo Montra Pool villa. Coconut Paradise Villas. Katamanda - Baan Kata Sooksan. Sand in My Shoes Beach Loft. Bambuh Boutique Homestay. Roukh Kiri Khao Yai.