Kanchanaburi

   Kanchanaburi ( กาญจนบุรี ) or smiply Kan is the capital of the province of

Kanchanaburi and is located 130 kms north-west from Bangkok in the centralregion of Thailand.

    The town has nearly 30.000 inhabitants.

    Kanchanaburi is situated at the juntion of the rivers  Mae Nam Kwae Noi (little Kwai)  and  Mae Nam  Kwai Yai ( big Kwai ). After the junction the river is named  Mae Nam Mae Klong (Klong river). 

Climate:

   The climate of Kanchanaburi is tropical and pleasant throughout the year, with temperatures varying from 25° to 40° Celsius.

    The best season for travellers to Kanchanaburi is from November till March.

Rainy season (monsoon) goes from end of June till October and Cool season is from November till January. April is the hottest month of the year with temperatures upto 40° Celsius and more.

   Rainy season however often amounts in fact to some refreshing showers in late afternoon followed by the return of the sun the next day.

History:

   Archaeological remains found in Kanchanaburi date back to the 4th century, with evidence of trade with surrounding regions at that time.

     During the Ayutthaya period, the realm of King Naresuan outreached beyond Kanchanaburi. In 1592 the Burmese invaded the empire of Ayutthaya via the three pagoda pass in nowadays Kanchanaburi Province.  Naresua killed the Burmese crown prince in an elephant duel that as some historians believe could have taken place in Phanom Thuan district near Kanchanaburi town. The Burmese were defeated and the famous elephant duel is at the centre of a yearly festival in the municipality of Don Chedi.

    Most foreigners however know the history  of the death railway, where the Japanese forced prisoners of war to construct a railway between Burma and Thailand, including the famous bridge over the river Kwai.

Places of interest:

• Famous Bridge over the river Kwai
• Town of Kanchanaburi & war museum
•  Death railway
•  Nam Tok Waterall in Sai Yoke Noi
•  Sai Yoke National Park
• Erawan Waterfall & National Park
• Muang Singh historical Park
• Sri Nagarindra National Park
• Three pagoda pass