Kanchanaburi, Kanchanaburi is Thailand´s third largest of 76 provinces. It is located 130 km west of Bangkok and covers an area of 19,480 km². About 735,000 inhabitant are living in Kanchanaburi province which borders Myanmar (Burma) at the north-west.
Kanchanaburi town has a population of 54,000 and was originally established by King Rama I as a first line of defence against the Burmese, who might use the old invasion route through the Three Pagodas Pass on the Thai-Myanmar border. It is situated on the River Kwai and the home of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai, immortalized in Pierre Bouclé's same named novel and David Lean's movie.Every year in late November and early December the River Kwai Bridge Festival is held at the bridge with a spectacular Sound & Light Show. This event reminds to the history of the Death Railway and the bombardments during World War II. The Province itself captivates beautiful nature and friendly people with their native charm. Major attractions include several waterfalls, mountains, caves (that were once inhabited by neolithic man), national parks and last,
but not least, the River Kwai.
Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi.
Deep in the heart of the Kanchanaburi province in Western Thailand there lies a Buddhist temple with a difference. For not only is this temple home to monks who spend their time in prayer and meditation, over the last 7 years it has become a sanctuary for tigers. Abbot-Pra Acharn Phusit (Chan)
and two of his tigers in the canyon.When villagers found an orphaned tiger cub, they went from place to place seeking help. Upon arrival at the monastery, the cub was welcomed out of compassion and saved from certain death. Since then many more orphaned tigers have found refuge under the abbots loving care. |
