Bridge on the River Kwai

The famous Bridge on the River Kwai is located in
Kanchanaburi Province, not for from the city center.
This bridge was first built as a part of the railway
between Thailand and Burma in 1942.

During the World War II, the Japanese wanted to
seek to shorten the supply lines bewteen Japan
and Burma in preparation for an eventual attact
on British India. The Japanese started work on a
railway from Thailand to Burma through the river
valley for a distance of about 400 kilometers or
249 miles. Constructions were split into many
different areas and carried out simultaneously.

For the difficult work, the Japanes enforced roughly 250,000 Asian laborers and 61,000 Allied prisoners-of-war to construct 260 kilometers of rail
on the Thai side, approaching the Three Pagodas Pass on the border.

Special Train for Tourists
Every Saturday, Sunday and public holidays there is
a special train for tourists leaving Hua Lam Pong
main station in Bangkok at 06.30 a.m., and return
from Kanchanaburi at 5.00 p.m. The round trip 2nd
class fare is 200 baht, and 100 baht for 3rd class
fare.

Unfortunately, it is estimated that 100,000 Asian
laborors and 16,000 Allied prisoners lost their
lives during that period due to many factors, such
as : starvation, exhaustion, diseases, and
especially malaria fever (now it is safe!).

In Kanchanaburi, graves mark 6,982 of the Allied
soldiers. There are two cemeteries, the larger one
is on the main road nearly opposite the railway
station; and the second is at Chungkai which is
across the river on the banks of the Kwai Noi.

The original bridge is no longer exist, and the
present one is for railway use and allow people
and motorcycle to cross. Today there are trains
running from Kanchanaburi to the terminus at
Nam Tok station for a distance of 50 kilometers
(31 miles). This journey may be one of the very
exciting thing to do for tourists.

Bridge over the River Kwai is world famous from
the Hollywood film made long time ago.