Attractions — Kanchanaburi

Prasat Mueang Sing (40 kilometres from Kanchanaburi) is a historical park with the ruins of Khmer temples from the 12th–13th centuries. Entrance to the park costs 120 baht.

A cave next to the Wat Tham Suea temple, filled with tiger statues and Buddhist shrines; visitors often place coins in cracks in the walls for good luck.

The town has a beach at the confluence of the rivers, a great spot for watching the sunset. You can swim there, and there are several food and drink stalls.

The River Kwai Bridge was destroyed during the war but later rebuilt and has become a popular attraction that recalls this tragic place. You can watch trains cross the river from the bank or from special viewing areas on the bridge itself.

The trail follows part of the former Thai–Burma Railway route, though the tracks are gone. This was the toughest section: prisoners cut a passage through the rock by hand — about 25 m high and 73 m long. Visitors can access the initial section of the trail. Prisoners are said to have named it “Hellfire Pass” because they worked nights by torch and firelight. The round-trip is about 5 km. Remnants of the old narrow-gauge line remain in places. An audio guide is available covering the main points and survivors’ memories. Expect some short climbs and gravel — wear sturdy shoes and bring water.

In 1942 the Japanese army invaded Myanmar, and the Thai border province of Kanchanaburi also came under their control. The Japanese hastily built a railway to supply their troops. More than 240,000 prisoners and labourers worked on the line; over 100,000 people died. Most were Asian forced labourers and prisoners of war from Britain, Australia, the Netherlands, the USA and Canada. The construction was later recognized as a war crime. After World War II the remains of the dead were moved to the military cemetery in Kanchanaburi and two other cemeteries in the region.

Wat Ban Tham is a few kilometres from the cave. It's notable for an entrance that looks like a dragon's mouth. At the end of the staircase there is a cave with a Buddha statue and a prayer hall. Another staircase from the cave leads upward. The entire route to the summit, from which there are views of the river and rice fields, comprises 750 steps.

About one kilometre from the station is Sai Yok Noi Waterfall — thanks to the railway it is one of the most accessible waterfalls in Thailand. The fall is small but has beautiful turquoise water and is fullest in the autumn rainy season. There's a park and walking paths nearby. Entrance is free.

The park's main attraction is the emerald Erawan Waterfalls.

The town has many ornately and brightly decorated Buddhist temples, and next to the railway bridge there is a Chinese temple. Entrance is free.

Wat Tham Suea (20 kilometres from Kanchanaburi) is one of the region's main religious attractions. The temple is multi-level, with an 18‑metre Buddha statue at the top. You can also climb one of the pagodas for panoramic views of the surroundings. Next to the temple is the Tiger Cave, filled with tiger figures and Buddhist shrines; in cracks in the walls visitors can leave a coin for luck.

There are several hot springs in Kanchanaburi; Hindad is one of the most visited. Discovered by chance during wartime railway construction, it is a natural hot spring with a year-round geyser. The site has three pools about 1.5 m deep with temperatures ranging from 35 to 45 °C; you can cool off in the nearby river. Entrance is 60 baht. Important: the spring water contains radon, which is radioactive; radon therapy is not recognised as beneficial in all countries.

Tham Lawa Cave (75 kilometres from Kanchanaburi) is the province's best-known and one of its largest caves. It's located in Sai Yok National Park. To reach the cave you must climb a staircase of 100 steps. Torches are provided at the entrance and there is some lighting inside. The cave takes about half an hour to explore; its length is roughly half a kilometre. It's notable for many stalactites and stalagmites and for the bats that live there. Entrance for foreigners is 300 baht.

Wat Tham Mangkorn Thong, or the Cave Temple of the Golden Dragon (five kilometres from Kanchanaburi). The most notable feature is a nun who meditates in a pool; to see her you need to pay 200 baht. The first nun who began meditating in the water has died, but her practice has been continued. From the caves above the temple there are panoramic views over the valley and mountains.

The giant monkey-pod tree is 20 kilometres from town. Locals say it’s the biggest tree in Thailand. Whether that’s true is unknown, but it looks impressive: the crown diameter of the century-old tree is over 50 metres. A wooden platform has been installed around the tree to avoid damaging the roots.