River Kwai Thailand Pictures & Information

River Kwai Allied War Cemetery at Kanchanaburi, War Museum

Adjacent to the War Museum, the grave markers at the Don-Rak Cemetery honour the memory Allied service men remembered here.

This day, there was a steady stream of relatives and friends who'd come -- from Australia, the Netherlands, Britain -- to locate the final resting place of their lost ones.

I found the museum's subject matter too difficult to deal with, so I spent my time reading some of the 7,000 grave markers here, thinking about these soldiers as well as the thousands of Asians whose grave sites are unknown.

Bridge on the River Kwai Waiting for the Train

To the left rear of this perspective, workers were setting up a grandstand for the annual light Show that starts on Armistice Day, November 11, and continues into December.

The show draws a large crowd each year, with visitors coming from around the globe, and BBC television news broadcasts the Armistice Day ceremony.

River Kwai Bridge above Traditional Long Tail Boats

The bridge is still an imposing structure, though it is not the original wooden bridge.

Along its sides, there are bump outs (platforms) where several people can stand off the tracks when a train comes.

Note the longtail boats tied up along the river's edge.

These long tail boats are a hallmark of Thailand river travel.

Kanchanaburi Train

On the DEATH Railway from the bridge on the River Kwai.

It was suggested we pay a few baht (Thai currency for a first class seat, so most of us did.

The train ride itself is a marvellous experience -- the wooden frame windows are open, the cinders blow in, the whistle sounds at all crossings, as it passes through fields of sugar cane and woodlands, hugging the canyon walls.

River Kwai Views From the Kanchanaburi Train

The train slowed to go over this bridge and I took the picture out the window.

At several stops along the way, local Thais variously boarded or got off, showing its use as a local commuter train.

The train ride itself lasted about an hour and a half -- a rare treat to a time gone by.

All passengers, me included, enjoyed the ride immensely.

Kanchanaburi Train Thailand Views Outside the Window

I highly recommend taking this trip to the River Kwai and Hellfire Pass, if only for the train ride.

All the passengers seemed to be having a wonderful time, and it was a highlight for us all.

The novelty of this ride in an old-fashioned rail car is the perfect antidote to the somber moods occasioned by the museum visit.

Even now, I find I get very emotional when writing about this trip, and usually make many typos.

I am sorry, but it is an emotional experience to be dropped into history.

Am I glad I went here? Very.

Would I travel to Kanchanaburi and the river Kwai again?

Definitely!

Resort along the River Kwai - Thai Favorites Accessed by Long Tail Boat

A day trip up the river in a longtail boat was included with my hotel package, and this was the view from the river.

Independent visitors can also join the tour. Many resorts such as this one, float near the river's banks.

Before boarding the longtail boats, visitors are required to wear properly fitting life jackets.

If you can, take along a spare jacket to sit on. The bottom of these wooden boats, where you sit for the ride, is a lot more comfortable with a cushion.

Resorts Along the River Kwai Appeals to Thais not Tourists

Here is another resort that is also used almost exclusively by Thais.

When asked why only Thais use this resort, the guide said these resorts were rustic, had no lights nor air conditioning -- really 'back to nature', which the Thais enjoy.

Tourists like more comforts, he said,  and more comfortable resorts like the River Kwai Village Hotel

Long Tail Boat to River RAft to Kwai Noi Waterfalls

This lovely location is where we stopped for a box lunch provided by the resort.

We transferred from the longtail boat to a large covered raft (with picnic tables) which was then towed by a motor boat to its anchorage at the base of the falls.

There are restrooms at the dock, when you  transfer from longtail to raft.

The tow boat positions one end of the raft under the flowing water so you can have a cool shower if you want; Bring/wear your swimsuit.

Natural Water Slide at the waterfalls park

Before leaving the falls area, we went back to the dock on the raft then went walkabout.

Our little group of four including the guide walked up the path through the park, where these other visitors were having a great time sliding down the smooth rocks that formed a natural water slide.

There's a walking bridge over the River Kwai Noi in this area, and gives a good view of the park and waterfalls.

Tubing Down the River Kwai

A tour group heads down the River Kwai Noi, squeeling with delgiht as they are swept along the murky green waters of the River Kwai.

From the ride on the lovely old train, to the emotional impact of the War Museum, River Kwai is an unforgettable journey.

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