Top Bangkok Tours

Bridge over the river Kwai Tours

Most people have seen the popular film ‘Bride over the River Kwai’, but know little of the real story, or how it came to happen. Since a trip to Kanchanaburi is further than most realise, we outline the background history to this event, so that you can decide if you have the time to visit.

In December 1941 the day after the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, bringing the Americans into the Second World War, the Japanese invaded several Countries in South East Asia from the Sea, including Thailand. With Japanese landings at nine points within Thailand, the authorities acceded to Japans request for ‘passage rights’ and retained its Army and political administration.

Japanese forces moved south rapidly through dense tropical Jungle, thought to be impossible for movement of a large military force, defeating the Malaya garrisons on the way. The fortress of Singapore, with its coastal defences designed to repel an attack from the Sea, was attacked across the causeway from Johor and the British General Percival, fearing the annihilation of the local Malay and Chinese population, surrendered to the Japanese 80,000 British and commonwealth troops, Britain’s worst military disaster in History.

The Japanese rulers assembled some 300,000 Asian civilians and 60,000 Allied prisoners of War were used to build military fortification, Roads and Railways, with a large contingent sent to Kanchanaburi in Thailand, to extend an existing railway line from Bangkok, to cross the River Kwai and extend for 260 miles over mountainous terrain to Rangoon in Burma (now Myanmar). Around 100,000 civilians and 16,000 troops died during the construction of the Railway, as a result of their harsh treatment.

Kanchanaburi is located to the North West of the City and takes over two hours by Car, Bus or Train. Museums tell the real history of the Railway and Bridge as opposed to what was portrayed in the film. You can visit the dedicated memorials and Cemeteries in the area. Some trains still cross the Bridge and travel through the mountainous terrain.