Choose from 6 Fun Things to Do in Central Thailand
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Sampran Riverside
The Rose Garden is a worthwhile day trip from the capital. Not a botanical garden as the name suggests (although there are roses in a well-maintained and beautiful garden), it's a cultural center that provides a one-stop shop for learning and experiencing all things Thai.
If you visit the center on a tour, your visit will be timed to take in the daily show at 2:45pm in the Thai Cultural Village. You'll see Thai folk dancing, Thai boxing, sword fighting and an elephant show.
If the show doesn't sound like your thing, there are plenty of hands-on art and craft activities to engage in throughout the Rose Garden. If you've ever wanted to plant rice or make a lantern out of palm leaves then this is the place to do just that.
Practical Info
The Rose Garden is 32 km (20 mi) west of Bangkok. Many people visit here as part of a combined tour that includes a trip to the floating market at Damnoen Saduak.
Address: Km 32 Phetkasem Road, Sampran, Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok, Thailand
Hours: Open daily
Admission: Prices vary for different attractions
From $ 17
JEATH War Museum
The JEATH War Museum is a museum in Kanchanaburi dedicated to the story of the men who worked on the Death Railway. JEATH is an acronym for the different nationalities of the POWs that worked on the construction of the bridge between 1942 and 1943 (Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand, and Holland).
The museum displays the actual items that were used for the construction of the Death Railway. It also exhibits a large number of photographs taken by prisoners at the time, including graphic images of the harsh conditions that the men lived and worked in. One of the three galleries featuring such photographs is housed within a bamboo hut that’s an exact replica of the shelters that the POWs lived in during this time. There also written accounts,correspondence, interviews, and artwork by the prisoners that were forced to work on the bridge, along with a number of personal effects. In addition, the museum is home to a bomb dropped by the allies to destroy the bridge but that failed to explode.
Practical Info
The JEATH War Museum is situated within the Chai Chumphon temple on Newzealand Alley. It can be easily reached by songthaew and tuk tuk from the centre of Kanchanaburi, while daytrips from Bangkok to this area are easily arranged.
Address: Soi Newzealand, Kanchanaburi, Central Thailand, Thailand
Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm daily
Admission: 30 Baht
From $ 98
Burma Railway (Death Railway)
During the height of World War II in 1943, the Japanese Imperial Army used forced labor — both Allied prisoners of war and Asian laborers — to construct a rail line between Thailand and Burma to aid in the transport of troops and supplies. The railway stretched for 258 miles (415 kilometers) between Bangkok and Rangoon. Conditions for the workers were abhorrent, with long hours and sweltering heat. By the time it was finished 12,621 Allied POWs had died, as well as tens of thousands of Asian civilian laborers.
In 1947, after the war had ended, the Death Railway closed. A decade later the portion running between Nong Pla Duk and Nam Tok reopened, and today visitors can learn about this dark period in history by traveling the very same rail from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. The portion of the original Death Railway that passes along the Wampo Viaduct offers spectacular views. The Thailand-Burma Railway Centre in Kanchanaburi recounts the history of the line from its construction through its completion.
Practical Info
To see all the historic sites associated with the Thai-Burma Railway, plan to stay at least one night in Kanchanaburi.
Address: Mueang Kanchanaburi District, Kanchanaburi, Thailand
From $ 27
Erawan National Park
Located in the Kanchanaburi Province, the Erawan National Park it is one of the most famous in Thailand. Famed for its impressive seven-tiered waterfall, the park is a popular weekend spot for international visitors, as well as locals from Bangkok and nearby Kanchanaburi.
Just over 80% of the Erawan National Park is covered in verdant rainforest, with winding nature trails allowing visitors to marvel at the giant trees and spot the diverse wildlife that call the park home. Deep in the forest, tigers, wild elephants, cobras, and gibbons all live here, while avid bird-watchers should look out for hornbills, woodpeckers, and parakeets.
The major attraction at the Erawan National Park, however, is Erawan Falls. Named after the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology, these falls have seven levels cascading down over 1,500 meters and are widely regarded as among the more beautiful falls in Thailand. Walking to most levels of the waterfall is relatively easy to do, although to get to the very top is quite the hike, and some good walking shoes and a healthy dose of determination are both recommended!
Practical Info
Trains and buses depart from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi daily. Buses from Kanchanaburi stop by the entrance of the Erawan Falls every 90 minutes from 8am until 5:20pm each day. The last bus back to Kanchanaburi is at 4pm. Within the park, bicycles can be hired from 20 Baht per day.
Address: Mu 4, Tha Kradan Sub-district, Amphur Si Sawat, Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Hours: Daily
From $ 113
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
Wat Yai Chai Mongkol is an ancient Buddhist temple situated to the southeast of Ayutthaya. It was built in 1357 by King Uthong to house returning monks who had gone to study practical Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
In 1592, King Naresuan built the temple’s iconic bell-shaped chedi after a victory over Burma. This towering chedi can be seen from far and wide and features a platform offering wonderful views of the temple site and city beyond. Wat Yai Chai Mongkol was then destroyed by the Burmese in the mid-18th century, and was only rebuilt to its former glory in 1957.
The temple’s beautifully manicured gardens make this one of Ayutthaya’s most scenic and photogenic temple complexes. Perhaps the biggest attraction for most visitors however is the seven-meter reclining Buddha located near its entrance, which lays claim to being one of the largest outdoor reclining Buddha statues in Thailand.
Practical Info
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon sits across the Pridithamrong Bridge to the southeast of the city of Ayutthaya. A visit here can be conveniently combined with a trip to Wat Phanan Choeng.
Address: 40/3 Moo 3 Tambon Wat Klong Plu, Ayutthaya, Central Thailand 13000, Thailand
Hours: 8am-5pm daily
Admission: 50 Baht
From $ 28
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
Also known as the Don-Rak War Cemetery, the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery commemorates victims of the building of the Burma Railway during World War II.
Located on Saeng Chuto Road, the main road of the city of Kanchanaburi, the cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and contains the graves of Australian, British and Dutch POWs who were forced into labor by the Japanese, who controlled the area at the time of the Burma Railway construction.
A nearby privately funded museum, the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum, contains interactive displays describing the history of the railway and the prisoners who died building it.
Located on Saeng Chuto Road, the main road of the city of Kanchanaburi, the cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and contains the graves of Australian, British and Dutch POWs who were forced into labor by the Japanese, who controlled the area at the time of the Burma Railway construction.
A nearby privately funded museum, the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum, contains interactive displays describing the history of the railway and the prisoners who died building it.
Practical Info
Kanchanaburi is easily accessed by rail and bus from Bangkok, and the war cemetery is located about a 5-minute walk from the city's main station. The central Bangkok railway station has trips to the Burma Railway and stops to let visitors view the cemetery.
Address: Mueang Kanchanaburi District, Kanchanaburi, Thailand
From $ 98