Thailand: Bridge on the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi

The bridge on the River Kwai, made famous by the Hollywood film, is a railroad system contructed by the Japanese to link Burma (now Myanmar) to Thailand using force labor of American, British and other prisoners-of-war (POW). The cruelty and inhumane treatment by the Japanese of the builders of the tracks plus the difficulty of the Allies to bomd the system is often highlighted in documentaries and movies.

Tutubi was able to visit and cross the famous Bridge on the River Kwai after touring Bangkok with his friends. There is an actual train ride across the bridge when they got there but too many tourists present prevented them from enlisting.

Tutubi's two companions weren't able to see the bridge though as they were magnetized by shops at the entrance of the facility

Picture taken at Bridge of the River Kwae near the railroad


How to get to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok:

Trains run daily from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. The trains pass by these stations:

Bangkok (Thonburi), Nakhon Pathom, Kanchanaburi, River Kwai Bridge, Thakilen, Tham Krasae, Wang Pho, Nam Tok.

Fare is around 100 baht from Bangkok

By Bus : Every 15 minutes departure from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal to Kanchanaburi. Then connect Thong Pha Phum bus to the “Resotel”. Alight at km 56.

By Train : Daily departure from Bangkoknoi Railway station by Thonburi - Nam Tok Train at 07.50 hrs. Alight at Nam Tok Thong Pha Phum bus to alight at km 56 (Resotel bus-Stop).

By Bus : Non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal every 15 minutes from 4 a.m.-8 p.m. The trip takes about 2 hours. Call :0-2434-5557 for more information.

There are 2 types of air-conditioned buses. Standard 1 buses (blue colour) leave Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal from 5 a.m. till 10.30 p.m. daily at twenty-minute intervals. Standard 2 buses (orange colour) leave at twenty-minute intervals from 5.10 a.m. until 8.30 p.m. daily. The journey takes 2 hours. Call: 0-2435-5012, 0-2435-1199 for more information.


By Rail : Ordinary trains leave Bangkok's Thon Buri Railway Station (Bangkok Noi Station) every day at 7.35 a.m. and 1.45 p.m. for approximately 3 hour journey to Kanchanaburi. Call Thon Buri Railway Station at tel: 0-2411-3102 or Kanchanaburi Railway Station at tel: 0-3456-1052 or visit www.srt.motc.go.th.

The weekend special train leaves Bangkok Railway Station (Hualamphong) at 6.30 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. For more information, call : 1690, 0-2223-7010, 0-2223-7020.

UPDATED: April 5, 2013