Immortalised in the movie of the same name, this reconstructed iron-rail bridge has become the symbol of the Death Railway’s 414 km’s.
The bridge links the two sides of the Kwai Yai River and is probably the most photographed landmark in Kanchanaburi. It attracts visitors from all over the world. Ask most people and they will have heard of the bridge.
Depending on where you read about the Bridge that is standing today, it is either reconstruction of the original bridge, that was built by the Allied POWs under forced labour by the Japanese army and was bombed and destroyed in 1945 after being in use for 20 months. Or it is still mostly the original bridge standing. I have never been able to quite figure out which one is the truth here.
The bridge is still used today and you can walk on it and cross over to the other side of the river. It pays to be careful of the trains though. They still run twice a day and there are only a few narrow sections to stand on the bridge while the trains pass.
I haven’t yet been able to hop on one of the trains and take the journey along the railway, but the view from the bridge itself is quite spectacular.
If you are visiting the bridge, be prepared for crowds, as it is a popular attraction and a constant stream of local and international tourists are always crossing the bridge.
It is a great place to start exploring the Kanchanaburi area. Plenty of nice waterfront restaurants line the riverfront near the bridge, as well as the usual tourist stalls and shops.
If you have always wanted to visit the famous bridge, it is worth the trip. Grab a room overnight on the river and enjoy some history in this beautiful area of Thailand.
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