Death Railway

Many people died building the Thailand–Burma Railway during World War 2.  One way to appreciate how difficult was is to visit locations along the “Death Railway” where the difficulties were at the extreme.  The area east of the Tham Krasae Railway Station that is still in use today.  This area is very scenic with the sheer cliffs along the winding Kwai River.  But remember many gave their lives to remove the rock to make a flat grade for the trains to run smoothly during World War 2.  If you get a chance to visit, and you feel the high humidity and temperature of what is typically Thailand, remember how difficult it must have been for the prisoners of war who did not have proper food or clothes (and no air-conditioning) and were often beaten if the slowed construction.  

The trains on this line are mostly used for tourists, showing a big portion of the “Death Railway” within the Province of Kanchanaburi.  

At the western end of the cliff area and just west of the Tham Krasae Railway Station is another interesting destination, the Krasae Cave.  It is not a large cave but easy to access and there is a Buddhist Shrine in the cave making it a place for meditation.