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Kanchanaburi
is an elongated province that borders Myanmar to the
west,packed with national parks, rivers, dams and wonderful
scenery. However,it is the events of World War
II that has driven the tourism industry, most notably
the building of Death Railway and the famous bridge
portrayed in the film The Bridge Over the River Kwai.
Each December it is the site of a spectacular light
and sound show depicting its history and bombing
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An estimated 16,000 PoWs died building
the railway from Thailand to Myanmar and their
remains are buried in two well-kept war cemeteries
in town. The Jeath War Museum is a reconstructed
PoW detention hut, with photos and relics showing
how they lived and died. At Hellfire , 80 kilometres
outside town, the Australians have |
built
a second fascinating museum, while the pass itself
is a haunting tribute.Steam trains run the route
from Kanchanaburi to Namtok, along rickety cliffside
trellises, giving visitors a feel for the old
railway line.
For history
buffs, Prasat Muang Singh represents the western
outpost of the Khmer empire, whose stone ruins have
been renovated into a pleasant green park. Further
to the north, Erawan and Than Lot national parks
contain beautiful waterfalls, caves, wonderful scenery
and plenty of wildlife. While the Sri Nakharin and
Khao Laem dams have formed huge reservoirs
with resorts and raft-houses lining the shores,
popular with visitors who want to enjoy the natural
surroundings
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NAKHON PATHOM
Nakhon
Pathom lies on the main overland route
used forcenturies to link India to Thailand
via the Three Pagodas Pass, so it is
only natural that Buddhism in Thailand
began at this
ancient town.
The
town is dominated by the massivePhra
Pathom Chedi,127metres tall and the most venerated
Buddhist monument in Thailand.The original 10th
chedi was built by the Mons in the century,
and successive renovations have placed
a bigger chedi on top. All sorts of
interesting items surround the chedi,
including Buddhas in every sort of pose,
holy trees, replica chedis, museums
and ceremonial halls. The ashes of King Vajiravudh,
who completed the present-day restoration,
are buried there. |
The
king's lovely summer residence, Sanam Chan Palace
is close by, built in the English Tudor style. Beautifully
restored, it is an interesting museum of a royal
residence, where the king translated Shakespeare's
plays.
Other places
of interest include Buddha Monthon, a large park
area dedicated to the promotion of Buddhism;
the Rose Garden, a resort popular for its extensive
gardensand well presented cultural show; and
Samphran ElephantGround and Zoo that
puts on daily elephant and crocodile performances
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The
province is renowned for the resort of
Hua Hin, where the Royal Family has a
summer palace, Klai Kangwon, which is
open to the public when royalty is not
in residence. Thailand's first beach
resort, it maintains a quaint old world
feeling with small streets and night
market to walk around, Thailand's oldest
golf course, and a beautiful railway
station. |
To
the south is the magnificent Khao Sam Roi Yot
National Park, a marsh wetland park, with
soaring peaks, quiet beaches and a wide range
of exotic bird life. Popular activities
include nature walks, bird watching and boat
rides along Khao Daeng Canal. Of
the numerous caves, visitors usually head for
Phraya Nakhon Cave, where a superb
royal pavilion, built for King Chulalongkorn,
stands inside the mouth.
Prachuap
Khiri Khan is a delightful town with a wide
curving bay. At the north end is Khao
Chong Krachok (Mirror Tunnel Mountain), with
a large hole in it that appears to reflect
the sky. At the top, Wat Thammi-karam offers
good views of the bay and is home to a
colony of monkeys.
Nearby
Manao Bay, part of an Air Force base, is an
attractive beach open to visitors, while
Wa Kor beach hasa small astronomy museum plus
a monument to King Rama IV. At the southernmost
tip of the province, Thalu island is popular
as a diving centre.
The
ancient town of Phetchaburi has had many influences
in its past - Mons, Khmers and the Ayutthaya
kingdom, whose hand can be seen in various temple
murals. The best example of Ayutthaya
art is at Wat Yai Suwannaram, with murals and
a beautiful teak sala transported from the former
capital, and at Wat Ko Kaew Sutharam.
Dominating
the town is Phra Nakhon Khiri, a beautifully
restored summer palace built for King Mongkut
on top of a hill, accessible by cable car. It
is now a historical park, containing a residence,
observatory and temple that resembles the Emerald
- Buddha Temple in Bangkok.
On
the outskirts of the city, Khao Luang Cave is
known for its Buddha images, miniature
chedis and stalactites, all spectacularly enhanced
by sunlight in the afternoon.
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South
of Phetchaburi is the beach resort of Cha-Am,
popular with Thai holiday-makers, who enjoy
its numerous activities and shaded beach
areas. The lovely teak-wood
Maruk Khathayawan Palace, facing sea, was
built for King Vajiravudh as a summerretreat,
with a large hall where the king used to
put on his famous plays. |
Thailand's
largest national park, Kaeng Krachan is
a vast forested and mountainous
area stretching to the Myanmar border,
and packed with wildlife and impressive
waterfalls. Guided treks are popular,
as are rafting on the Phetchaburi River
or boating on the massive lake.
At
the mouth of the Tha Chin River, Samut Sakhon
is a busy fishing centre, providing
fresh catches for nearby Bangkok. Wichian
Chodok Fort was built to withstand
possible invasion, and its collection of
old cannons now stand in front of the city
pillar.
Culture
addicts not wishing to drive to Damnoen
Saduak can try the Khlong Pho Hak
Floating Market, which canbe reached by
long-tail boat.
The
Chao Mae Kuan Im shrine at Wat Chong Lom
is famous due to its nine-metre fountain,
pouring water into the right hand of a
sculpture of the Mahayana Buddha,
Goddess of Mercy.
| Thailand's
smallest province is very flat, known
for the salt produced at numerous
artificial lakes. The town sits beside
the Mae Klong River, at whose mouth
villagers scramble to collect hoi
lot (worm shells) beloved by Thais.
There are three floating markets on
the outskirts of town, including Tha
Kha Floating Market, set in an open
area of traditional wooden houses.
Ban Bencharong is a small village
producing traditional five-coloured
ceramics. |
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Attractions
include Wat Phet Samut Worawihan, containing
a large Buddha image known as Luang
Pho Wat Ban Laem, Wat Satthatham, whose
main building is made of teak, encrusted
with mother of pearl depicting scenes
from the life of Buddha; and a delightful
Memorial Park full of trees and plants,
honouring the birthplace of King
Rama II.
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