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- The
Death Railway and the Bridge on the River Kwai
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This railway and the tragic story
behind it have become widely known through the
Hollywood film "The Bridge Over the River
Kwai". The railways was built by Japanese
occupation army during World War II, using Allied
POWS and forced labourers from occupied Southeast
Asian countries. In Japanese desperate attempt to
rush the construction to an early completion, ten
of thousands of the workers, and a large number
of Japanese soldiers as well, perished in the
very harsh working conditions.
The State Railway of Thailand organises one day train trip on public holidays, which will take you to Khao Phang Waterfall and the War Cemetery, where the remains of 6,982 Allied POWS were buried. A River KWai Bridge Week is held in the bridge area in late November to early December each year.