West Thailand (River Kwai)

Nakhon Pathom is a very old city which has been a center of the Dvaravati civilisation. Over 2,000 years ago, a Buddhist missionary Fri India was sent to introduce Buddhism and its philosophy to a land called Suwannaphum, which had Nakhonpathom as its capital. Phra Pathom Chedi was the important structure of the kingdom. The Prosperous city was abandoned in the 12th century. A new community settled down after the renovation of Phra Pathom Chedi was completed in the reign of King Rama V of Bangkok period.

Kanchanaburi is Thailand's third largest province. It covers an area of 19,486 square kilometres, most of which is forested mountains. There are fertile plains around the meeting point of the Kwai Noi & Kwai Yai Rivers where the town is located. To the west, Kanchanaburi shares a border with Myanmar and has the Tanaowsri Range as its borderline.

Beyone, the compact provincial capital is some 130 kilometres from Bangkok, Kanchanaburi unfolds into progressively arresting scenic beauty in a landscape characterised by several waterfalls, caves once inhabited by Neolithic man, national parks, and tranquil riverside and reservoir setting. Many of its major attraction are also connected with the Second World War, and more specifically the years 1942 to 1945.

Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country with monsoon showers. Temperatures are at it's highest in March and April with an average temperature of 28ºC to 38ºC, humidity averaging between 73% to 83%. There are three seasons in Thailand - summer, rainy and cool. Summer from March through to May, rainy from June to October and cool from November through to February.