Bridge on the River Kwai
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Nature & Wildlife,
Off-the-Beaten Path,
Bridge,
Monument - Modern,
Ruin - Modern
Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province is home to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai and the beginning of the Thai-Burma Death Railway, both poignant reminders of the thousands of POW's and forced laborers who lost their lives in WWII.
Made famous by the 1957 David Lean movie of the same name, the building of the bridge in 1943 was one part of a huge Japanese wartime project to link Thai and Burmese railway lines and create a direct route from Bangkok.
Due to illness, starvation and neglect, thousands of people lost their lives building the bridge and railway – you can visit the graves of nearly 7,000 POWs at the nearby Kanchanaburi war cemetery. Parts of the original bridge are now displayed in the War Museum here. You can walk along the restored railway bridge on foot or take a train specifically for tourists.
Latest Reviews
Review by Janet J, April 2013
Doing what: Thai Burma Death Railway Bridge on the River Kwai Tour from Bangkok
Fantastic trip and great service.We received a letter the day before stating what time we would be picked up, we had an air conditioned mini bus with our party of 5 and 2 other travellers in it and our guide was lovely. We all thoroughly enjoyed the trip, the boat ride to the actual bridge was a great way to get your first glimpse of it. Highly recommended.
Review by ELIZABETH M, March 2013
Doing what: Thai Burma Death Railway Bridge on the River Kwai Tour from Bangkok
Excellent trip, long journey but well worth it. Must do if you dont mind the journey. Sadly we lost our photos, anyone got any up to date thatwe could purchase?
Review by Charles F, March 2013
Doing what: Floating Markets and Bridge on River Kwai Tour from Bangkok
We found it an amazing experience, the maket was very busy and congested, but that was the whole fun of it, I thought we would all end up in the water, nevertheless I would reccomend it to anybody visiting Bangkok we did the floating market and the River Kawi it was a very long day, but totally worth it all. Our guide was fantastic and very knowledgable, and great fun, All in all it was a fantastic day.
The Bridge on the River Kwai is in Kanchanaburi about 130 km (80 mi) west of Bangkok. You can arrange a tour here or travel independently by train from Bangkok Noi Railway Station.
