The Birth of Kanchanaburi
A relatively modern province, the origins of Kanchanaburi can be traced back to the reign of King Rama I, who established the area as a defence against the invading Burmese in the late 18th century. The Thais and Burmese have a long history of cross-border troubles and Three Pagodas Pass in Sangkhlaburi district is still used today as a smuggling route!
Over the next century, Thailand as a nation became the economic power of S.E.Asia, due in large part to the creation of small towns such as Kanchanaburi, complimenting the established Kingdoms of Ayutthaya, Sukothai and of course Bangkok.