Kanchanaburi, Thailand – Train Around the World

Kanchanaburi is an old town in east Thailand. It is well-known for the famous Death Railway, constructed during WWII. The route covers the River Khwae Yai through the Death Railway Bridge, which was built by the Japanese.

The Thailand Burma Railway Museum explores the broader history of this railway. Nearby, skeletons of Allied prisoners of war are buried in the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. This is where the world’s first death railway was built to transport prisoners of war to the prison camp in Burma. After the Second World War, the place was turned into a prison camp for political prisoners. Today, it houses prisoners who escaped from Thai and foreign wars as well as prisoners convicted of crimes against humanity and war criminals.

Another interesting fact about Kanchanaburi is that it houses the only World Heritage Site on the east-west axis of Thailand: the Tank Museum. Built over the River Khwae, it has been declared a national park since 1960. Exhibits inside the Tank Museum draw visitors from around the world. Some of the most famous of these include the Monuments in the Ruins of Chiang Mai, the Manghathai Oil Tank, Royal Grand Palace, Royal Temple of Tham Topham, and Thailand National Art Gallery. Tourists who want to see some sights from the Second World War must-visit Kanchanaburi.