The Bridge on the River Kwai is a historic railway bridge over the Mae Klong river in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. It was built during the Second World War by prisoners of war, and today it stands as a memorial and a popular place for visitors to walk, look and reflect. It is also known as the Death Railway Bridge or the Kwai River Bridge.
What to expect
The bridge is best approached as a place of remembrance rather than only a sightseeing stop. Its history is closely tied to the Death Railway, the wartime line whose construction cost many lives. Many visitors come after reading about that history, and the site itself gives a quiet sense of what the workers endured.
- A historic steel railway bridge you can walk across or view from the riverbank
- A memorial setting that commemorates the prisoners of war who built the line
- A site made widely known by the 1957 film, which many people will recognise
Around the bridge
Kanchanaburi is a provincial town on the river, and the bridge is one of its best-known landmarks. Visitors often combine a trip here with other sites in the area that relate to the same wartime history, and with the riverside setting that surrounds the town.
Because the bridge is a memorial as well as an attraction, it suits a visit made with a respectful and unhurried pace. For up-to-date details on visiting, the site can be reached by telephone on +66-34-511-200.
