Kanchanaburi's 'Death Railway' gets another turn in the spotlight
Though Kanchanaburi's Kwai bridge was bombed by Allied Forces in 1944, some of the curved spans are original. Thailand’s western town of Kanchanaburi, already a popular tourist destination for war buffs thanks to the 1957 film “Bridge Over the River Kwai,” is set for a tourism boost with the film adaptation of the bestselling non-fiction book, "The Railway Man."
British Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth has reportedly signed on to star in the lead role as former British army officer Eric Lomax, who was held prisoner by the Japanese Empire during World War II and forced to help build the infamous Thailand to Burma “death” railway.
The film is set to start shooting in the UK, Thailand and Australia in February 2011.
The added exposure couldn't come at a better time for Kanchanaburi, now well-positioned to take advantage of the expected rise in tourism an international film brings.
In recent years, the town has added a number of high-end resorts and boutiques to its roster of guest houses and "floating" hotels on the river, while retaining its sleepy, slow-paced feel.
The main attractions in the area are the River Kwai bridge and the tourist trains that pass over it, as well as a handful of war museums, especially the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, POW cemeteries and nearby Erawan Falls. There are also a few golf courses and other outdoor activities like river rafting, rock climbing and trekking.
One of the best times to visit Kanchanaburi is during “River Kwai Bridge Week,” which takes place in late November/early December to commemorate the Allied bombing of the area on November 28, 1944.
Event highlights include historical and archaeological exhibits, a carnival, folk and cultural performances, rides on World War II vintage trains and a light and sound presentation re-enacting the bridge's World War II legacy.
More on CNNGo: Beyond Kanchanaburi -- Thailand’s understated wild west
