The novel was made into the 1957 film The Bridge on the River Kwai, directed by David Lean, which won the 1957 Academy Award for Best Picture. This film was shot in Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon. Three stars for The Bridge Over the River Kwai by Pierre Boulle. I liked it, but man 'o man, it annoyed me. A product of it's times (written in 1954), Kwai is both stereotypical and stiff in the telling of a 1942, WWII, Pacific Theatre event.

Bangkok to the Bridge on the River Kwai by train for 100 baht ($2):Two daily trains link Bangkok's Thonburi station withKanchanaburi & the Bridge on the River Kwai.The third class seatson these trains are notcrowded. Vendors sell drinks, fruit, food & beer, it's a very pleasant way to travel.Above, the train from Bangkokarrives at Kanchanaburi. Most travellers use Kanchanaburias their base to explore the area, so alight here to find ahotel. If you're only doing a day trip, stay on board asthe train will stop at River Kwae Bridge station a few minutesafter leaving Kanchanaburi.The Bridge on the River Kwai,seen from the Kanchanaburi end. All trains call at RiverKwae Bridge station, located about 200 yards before the bridge,a few minutes after leaving Kanchanaburi. The Bridge isnow surrounded by cafes, restaurants, souvenir stalls etc.You can walk over the bridge,even though it's still used by 3 trains each way every day.The Bridge On the River Kwai,in the afternoon sun from the Kanchanaburi side. Uprising empires review. Thecurved spans are 1943 originals, the 2 straight spans replacedones damaged by US bombs in 1945.Another viewof the Bridge from the Kanchanaburiside.Tourists walking across theBridge.

River Kwai Bridge station is in the far background, justbefore the bridge.Take the train fromKanchanaburi on to Nam Tok:The trains run beyond River Kwai Bridge station as far as NamTok, crossing the Bridge itself and later the equally impressive Wampo Viaduct on theway. This is a view of the Kwae Noi, soon after crossingthe infamous Bridge on the way to Nam Tok.The train calls at Thamkrasae Bridge station,just before the Wampo Viaduct.Crossing the Wampo Viaduct:The train slows right down and carefully crosses the creakingWampo Viaduct alongside the River Kwae Noi. The scenery is fabulous.Hellfire Pass:The operational railway ends at Nam Tok, but about 18km further(80km from Kanchanaburi) on the disused section is Konyu Cutting,aka Hellfire Pass.At Hellfire passyou'll find an excellent Australian-sponsored museum.

Courtesy of SteveMason.The Death Railway:The Australian government has cleared 7km of the old track bednorth from Hellfire pass to Compressor Cutting. Fewtourists take the time to walk it, but try and do so, as it'sboth a moving experience and a pleasant walk through peacefulshady jungle. This is the view acrossthe Kwai valley.How to visitKanchanaburi & the Bridge on the River Kwai.During World War 2, the Japanese used Allied prisoners of war to build arailway from Thailand to Burma so they could supply their army without the dangers of sending supplies by sea. Many prisonersdied under appalling conditions and the line became known asthe 'Death Railway'. David Lean's famous 1957 film The Bridge on the RiverKwai centres around one of the line's main engineeringfeats, the bridge across the Kwae Yai river just north ofKanchanaburi. Although the film was shot in Sri Lanka, theBridge on the River Kwai really exists, and still carries regular local passenger trains from Bangkok as far as Nam Tok.

For anyoneinterested in 20th century history, a visit to Kanchanaburi and theinfamous Death Railway is a must.This page explains how to travelby trainfrom Bangkok to Kanchanaburi for just 100 baht ($2) and visit the Bridge on theRiver Kwai, the Wampo Viaduct and Hellfire Pass(Konyu Cutting). Set your soul on fire. You can see the Bridge on the River Kwai asa day trip from Bangkok using the morning train out and afternoon train back, but a 2 or 3 day tripis better as there's more to see than just theBridge. For example, take the morningtrain from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi on day 1, stay anight or two in Kanchanaburi, then take the afternoontrain back on day 2 or 3, and visit Hellfire Pass (lesswell known than the Bridge, but not be missed) and ride the DeathRailway over the dramatic Wampo Viaduct asfar as its current terminus at Nam Tok.Visiting the Death Railway.

Train travel in SoutheastAsia.: Slow Train to River KwaiFrom Bangkok:There's something not right about taking a bus to see the Death Railway and Bridgeon the River Kwai. It's more appropriate - and much more fun - to take the trainfrom Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and the Bridge on the River Kwai usingthe Death Railway itself. Two trains a day leave Bangkok Thonburi station (also known as Bangkok Noi) on theWest side of theriver in Bangkok, for Kanchanaburi then River Kwai Bridge station (onthe Bangkok side of the Bridge a few minutes beyond Kanchanaburi),then crossing the Bridge itself & running alongside the scenic River Kwaeover the Wampo Viaduct to Nam Tok. The fare is only 100 baht(£2 or $3). No reservation is necessary, they cannot sell out, just turnup, buy a ticket and hop on any time before it leaves.The trains are 3rd class only, but don't let this put you off as they areclean & comfortable, see the photo above right.

In fact, sitting next to an open window whilst clickety-clacking through the Thai countryside is easily the mostpleasant way to reach Kanchanaburi.There's no buffet car, but vendors walk up and down the train sellingsoft drinks and pre-packed fruit and food. The slicesof Pomelo are lovely, not too sweet and not too sour. At weekends there's also a.From Singapore, Malaysiaor Southern Thailand: You can travel toKanchanaburi & the River Kwai Bridge without going all the way intoBangkok and out again. Express trains from Penang, Hat Yai, Surat Thani& Hua Hin all stop at Nakhon Pathom, 64 km southwest ofBangkok, where you can change onto the local trains to Kanchanaburi(the actual junction between the Death Railway and theBangkok-Singapore main line is at Nong Pladuk, but express trainsdon't stop there).See the for train times betweenSingapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang & NakonPathom or thefor trains from Hat Yai, Surat Thani & Hua Hin to Nakon Pathom.Just remember the trains from the South can be 20 to 40 minutes lateor more, so don't plan any tight connections.

The.Bangkok to the Bridge on the River Kwai by train:Two daily trains link Bangkok's Thonburi station withKanchanaburi & the Bridge on the River Kwai.The third class seatson these trains are notcrowded. Vendors sell drinks, fruit, food & beer, it's a very pleasant way to travel.Above, the train from Bangkokarrives at Kanchanaburi. Most travellers use Kanchanaburias their base to explore the area, so alight here to find ahotel. If you're only doing a day trip, stay on board asthe train will stop at River Kwae Bridge station a few minutesafter leaving Kanchanaburi.The Bridge on the River Kwai,seen from the Kanchanaburi end. All trains call at RiverKwae Bridge station, located about 200 yards before the bridge,a few minutes after leaving Kanchanaburi.

The Bridge isnow surrounded by cafes, restaurants, souvenir stalls etc.You can walk over the bridge,even though it's still used by 3 trains each way every day.The Bridge On the River Kwai,in the afternoon sun from the Kanchanaburi side. Thecurved spans are 1943 originals, the 2 straight spans replacedones damaged by US bombs in 1945.Another viewof the Bridge from the Kanchanaburiside.Tourists walking across theBridge.

River Kwai Bridge station is in the far background, justbefore the bridge.Take the train fromKanchanaburi on to Nam Tok:The trains run beyond River Kwai Bridge station as far as NamTok, crossing the Bridge itself and later the equally impressive Wampo Viaduct on theway. This is a view of the Kwae Noi, soon after crossingthe infamous Bridge on the way to Nam Tok.The train calls at Thamkrasae Bridge station,just before the Wampo Viaduct.Crossing the Wampo Viaduct:The train slows right down and carefully crosses the creakingWampo Viaduct alongside the River Kwae Noi.

The scenery is fabulous.Hellfire Pass:The operational railway ends at Nam Tok, but about 18km further(80km from Kanchanaburi) on the disused section is Konyu Cutting,aka Hellfire Pass.At Hellfire passyou'll find an excellent Australian-sponsored museum. Courtesy of SteveMason.The Death Railway:The Australian government has cleared 7km of the old track bednorth from Hellfire pass to Compressor Cutting. Fewtourists take the time to walk it, but try and do so, as it'sboth a moving experience and a pleasant walk through peacefulshady jungle. This is the view acrossthe Kwai valley.Watch the Video. Specialon Saturdays, Sundays & holidaysWeekend excursion railcar:The weekend excursion train from Bangkok crosses the Bridge onthe River Kwai.In addition to theseregular daily passenger trains, there is aspecial tourist railcar for day trippers on Saturdays, Sundays &holidays. It has 3rd classnon-air-con seats, although some seats have more padding than othersas they were originally classified 2nd class.

As you canimagine from the amazingly cheap price, it's mainly aimed at Thaitourists and day trippers rather than rich westerners, but anyonecan use it, either for the whole itinerary or as a useful extraearly train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi & the Bridge on the RiverKwai. The itinerary looks like this (pleasedouble check exact times locally - you'll be given a photocopied sheetshowing the itinerary after you board):06.30 depart BangkokHualamphong station, Saturdays & Sundays only.07:40 arrive Nakhon Pathom,40 minute stop to visit the great Chedi (cone-shaped temple).09.26 arrive Kanchanaburi, 3minute stop.09.35 arrive River Kwai Bridge station & stop for 25 minutes.10.00 depart River Kwai Bridge station, cross the Bridge & head alongthe River Kwae via the impressive Wampo Viaduct.11.30 arrive Nam Tok station.11:30 arrive Nam Tok Sai YokNoi. This is the only train to run beyond Nam Tok to the end ofthe operational line. Time to see the scenic waterfall.14:25 leave Nam Tok Sai YokNoi.14.25 leave Nam Tok station heading back south.15.53 arrive at Kanchanaburi station and stop for 60 minutes for avisit to the war graves.16.53 leave Kanchanaburi.19.25 arrive back in Bangkok Hualamphong station.How much does it cost? Theround trip fare is 120 baht 3rd class non-air-con or 240 baht 2nd classair-conditioned.How to buy tickets.Advance reservation is required for this excursion train and you should booktickets inperson at the station as far ahead as you can - it cannot be booked online.This train can sell out even though it has hundreds of seats.

However,it's reported that if necessary you can just get on and pay the conductor on thetrain - you'll usually find plentyof free seats between Bangkok, Kanchanaburi & River Kwae Bridge, with all seats fully-bookedby tour groups from River Kwae across the bridge to Nam Tok, so if necessaryyou'll have to stand for this section if you didn't get a reservation.For information, see the ThaiRailways website, click the UK flag for English, click Travel by Railway and look for theNam Tok SaiyoknoiWaterfall trip. If you've limited time, this might be a goodoption, though you won't get to see Hellfire Pass & its museum.

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 WWII epic film directed by David Lean, based on the novel Le Pont de la Rivière Kwai by Pierre Boulle. The film is a work of fiction but borrows the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942–43 for its historical setting. It stars William Holden, Jack Hawkins, Alec Guinness and Sessue Hayakawa. The movie was filmed in Ceylon. The bridge in the film was located near Kitulgala. .. more on Wikipedia

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