A weekend in Kanchanaburi province: A visit to museums, historical sites, Khmer ruins and Three Pagodas Pass
Saturday, 4 – Sunday, 5 September 2010
Leader: Khun Euayporn Kerdchouay, Senior Consultant, The Siam Society
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Kanchanaburi is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful provinces in Thailand and one of the largest. The Muang district or the provincial centre is only 120 km. northwest of Bangkok. However from this point the province stretches a further 250 km. in the same direction until it reaches the Three Pagodas Pass, at the Thailand-Myanmar border.
Except in the area of the highly fertile plain which surrounds the towns, the size of Kanchanaburi and the nature of its heavily forested terrain mean that it is not a province which can be fully explored in a day or two. This natural beauty has prompted the establishment of four National Parks covering a total area of 2,641 sq. km. The present city was found in 1833 and enjoys a peaceful location on the left bank of Mae Klong River, roughly at the point where the Kwai Yai and Kwai Noi Rivers meet and merge. While the name of the town is little known outside Thailand the famous Bridge on the River Kwai is known throughout the world.
The area around Kanchanaburi has evidently been a centre of human settlement at least since Neolithic times, as is shown by the excavations carried out at Ban Kao over 40 years ago. In 1927 a Roman bronze lamp of 5-6 century A.D. in the form of a bird with a mask of Silenus on the cover-flap was discovered at the village of Phong Tuk. This suggests that the area may have been on a trade route running through the Three Pagodas Pass, which linked the East Roman Empire via India with Southeast Asia and China. Later in the 13th century, Kanchanaburi became one of the westernmost outposts of the Khmer empire and the temple of Muang Sing, 30 km. to the west of Kanchanaburi was part of an important fortified Khmer 
settlement.
The Three Pagodas Pass lies a few metres within Thailand and about 275 meters above sea level. With three small white-washed Chedi sitting in the middle of the traffic circle, the significance of the pass lies in the countless Burmese invading armies which have passed through here over the centuries, and the role it has played the maintenance of trade likes between the Indian Ocean and mainland Southeast Asia since the very early history. In recent time Mon and Karen liberation armies have found refuge in the area. The present peaceful scene is indicative of improved relation between Myanmar and Thailand.
During the weekend of Saturday, 4 to Sunday, 5 September 2010. The Siam Society will organise a weekend trip to visit many interesting places in Kanchanaburi province. The itinerary will include visits to the ruins and temple at Phong Tuk, the ethnological museum at Wat Muang, the excavations site at Ban Kao, Khmer ruins at Muang Sing and the Three Pagodas Pass at the Thailand-Myanmar borders.
The group will depart from the Siam Society by bus on Saturday, 4 September at 8:00 a.m. and will return to the Society on Sunday, 5 September at 9:45 p.m. Members will spend one night (for two persons per room ) at Felix River Kwai Resort, a beautiful hotel near the Bridge over the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi town.
Booking
A contribution of Bt. 6,850 (Bt. 8,850 for non-members) is solicited. The contribution includes all transportation, 5 meals, accommodation for one night, and entrance fees. An additional sum of Bt. 1,000 is requested for a single room. Please pay by cash or cheque (payable to ‘The Siam Society’). Alternatively you can deposit/transfer the money to the Siam Society travel account at the Thai Military Bank, Asoke Branch saving account no. 053-2-18000-7. Please fax or e-mail the deposit or transfer docket to us. There is a 4% surcharge for credit/debit card payment to cover bank charges.
The Siam Society reserves the right to change the programme as necessary. Seats are limited. Please book your place as soon as possible.
For further information and bookings please contact Khun Prasert (ext. 504) or Khun Ekkarin (ext. 506) on 0 2661 6470-7, fax 0 2258 3491 or e-mail: ekkarin@siam-society.org. Office hours: 9:00am.–5:00pm. Tuesday–Saturday (except holidays).