Bridge over the River Kwai

The famous black iron bridge in Kanchanaburi town is the single most visited relic of the Death Railway, and a genuine survivor of the war. Built by prisoners of war and Asian labourers in 1942 and 1943, it was bombed by Allied aircraft late in the war; the two angular, straight-sided central spans are post-war replacements, while the curved spans at each end are original. You can walk across the sleepers on foot, stepping into the marked refuge platforms when a train approaches, since the line still carries services today. A short tourist train from the town station rumbles slowly over the bridge and on along the river, which is a moving way to sense the scale of what was built. The setting is scenic, but remember what it cost: read a little history first so the crossing means more than a photo. Early morning is coolest and least crowded. The nearby night market and riverside restaurants make an easy evening.