Home Phutoey River Kwai
Enjoy a breath-taking ride on a traditional long-tailed boat. It is a main approach that local people commute along this river. Riding on the boat along the historical River KwaiNoi brings you the utmost relaxation. You will have the best opportunity to witness the stunning fertile nature along the Kwai River.
Private Boat Rental for sightseeing is 1,700 baht / boat / hour (max. 10 passengers per boat)
Canoe / kayak is also one of our guest’s most favourite adventures at the lake. Our boats feature a flat bottom making it more stable. Therefore, it is very safe and worry-free for kids.
Since the Japanese was urgent to finish the railroad tract construction within limited frame time, a great number of labors as many as 13,000 people from Malaya, India, Java, Burma, and Thailand were recruited to the first phase of construction, pre-paring cement and rock for pavement.
The Thai government hesitated to have Thai people labored with Japanese to avoid possible conflicts, At first the job was also opened for Thai people from nearby provinces such as Kanchanaburi, Rachaburi, Nakhon Patom and Phetchaburi, but Iater on, they looked for the immigrants such as Chinese people to do the works. The government contacted the Chinese Commercial-Chamber to make advertisement to their people. then they were able to collect 36,000 Chinese working-labors from Ayutthaya, Chonburi, Cha Cheong Sao, Prachinburi and Samut Prakan for the working site. Those labors whom were put to work so hard, sometimes. left the job; but the Japanese encouraged them to stay by providing them drugs. Therefore eighty percent of labors were addicted to opium; however, nothing the Thai government could do about it.
The notorious Burma-Thailand Railway which was constructed using the forced labour of thousands of Allied Prison-ers of War and captive Asian labourers during World War II, is dotted with stories of atrocious conditions and agonizing death. But there are also truly amazing stories of heroism, survival and mateship under the most arduous of conditions. One of these stories of enduring friendship actually began many years after the end of the war.
During one of his return journeys to Thailand (1983), Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop, himself a survivor of the Burma-Thailand Railway, along with a group of veteran POWs, returned to the railway. KhunKanit fondly recounts that during a long-tail boat trip along the minor tributary of the River Kwae (The KwaeNoi), members of the group approached a house-boat on the river. Onboard the houseboat was Mr. Kanit and his wife Oonjai. When some of the veterans began inquiring about buying some beer to slake their thirst, Mr. Kanit, responded “we don’t sell beer here, but we would be happy to welcome you with beer if you would like to come up to our house.” A second boat soon followed, with “Weary” Dunlop on board, and all of the veterans in the group were soon enjoying the company and hospitality of KhunKanit and his family at their riverside resort known as Home PhuToey.
That first meeting marked the beginning of a remarkable friendship which would evolve between Weary and KhunKa-nit. On 24th April 1994, in accordance with his wishes “to become one with the land that he loved”, Weary Dunlop’s ashes were scattered over a beautifully decorated Thai ceremonial boat, which was carried by his sons to the banks of the KwaeNoi. Guests paid their final respects by placing jasmine garlands on the boat which was then cast adrift from the banks of Home PhuToey.
To commemorate their remarkable bond, KhunKanit then dedicated 15 acres of his resort as the Weary Dunlop Park, which now stands as a private memorial to the man KhunKanit continues to describe as a dear friend, an inspirational human being, and a testament to the art of survival under harsh and brutal conditions. The park also contains a wide range of private collections and displays which are a valuable source of information on the history of the Burma-Thailand Railway.
Each year, on the eve of ANZAC Day, Khun Kanit continues to host a dinner for those returning to the area to attend the Dawn Service conducted in Hellfire Pass. A visit to Home PhuToey and the Weary Dunlop Park has virtually become a standard inclusion in the itinerary of official Defence visits to Thailand. In addition to quietly helping to sponsor the educational needs of hundreds of local children, Khun Kanit continues to extend his kindness and hospitality to all those who pass through, providing a valuable insight into the historical significance of the area. Over the years, many members of the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces have had the privilege of personally meeting Khun Kanit. Each would attest that this philanthropic and compassionate man, is himself a remarkable human being, and indeed, an “old mate along the track”.
65 years have passed since a brilliant young art student set sail from Liverpool to fight Japanese aggression in the Far East. Captured on arrival in the chaotic fall of Singapore, JACK CHALKER joined the 60,000 allied prisoners driven to the limits of human endurance in the slave labour camps of the infamous Burma Railway. “A sleeper laid for every life lost ” ran the legend, and the author’s brushes and paints, improvised with genius from the unlikeliest of sources, record not only the misery, squalor, savagery, heroism and fortitude of the prison camps, but also the horrific reality of disease, wounds and the ravages of starvation. This collection, having been donated to Mr Kanit Wanachote by the artist, is now on permanent display in this Jack Chalker Gallery.
Jack Chalker, who has died aged 96 , was a British artist who drew and painted the atrocities he witnessed as a prisoner of war on the Burma-Siam Railway, also known as the “Death Railway” and sketches and watercolours recorded life as a prisoner of war on the ‘Death Railway’ . Made famous by Pierre Boulle’s book (and David Lean’s film) The Bridge on the River Kwai, the railway is now a byword for war crimes. More than 12,000 Allied prisoners perished during its construction, along with at least 90,000 Asian labourers. The construction of a 258-mile railway line between Bangkok in Thailand to Rangoon in Burma during 1943 was intended to provide a supply route for Japanese forces in Burma. Chalker, a bombardier who had been captured at Singapore, worked on a stretch of the line at Kanchanaburi Province in the west of Thailand.
His sketches and watercolours, along with the works of his fellow PoW artists, Philip Meninsky, Ashley George Old and Ronald Searle, now form a valuable record of the brutality experienced by the men who were made to work for the Japanese forces, sometimes for up to 16 hours a day.
In later life Chalker described the conditions on the railway as “singularly horrific”. Torture, malnutrition, illness and execution were daily perils. “If you weren’t working hard enough they would make you stand and hold a stone above your head,”recalled Chalker. “You picked it up, which was better than collapsing because then they kicked you all over the place.”
Thailand’s mineral hotspring from its natural source to every hotspring pools in our resort. All resort guests can sense the spa-cious shared hotspring pools amongst the sound of abundant nature (Open 7:00 AM.– 9:00 AM. and 5:00 PM. – 9:00 PM.).
Must visit. Treetop Adventure Park offers extensive zipline adventure over beautiful trees and with breathtaking views. From one platform to another…from tree to tree…balance yourself through an assortment of games such as rope bridges, tarzan swings, flying skateboards, tight rope walk, and giant zip lines. No matter how old you are, you will enjoy hours of fun and ex-citement! Like Tarzan deep in the jungle they can slide down flying foxes, move from tree to tree on suspension bridges and jump from liana up to 25m above the ground. These eco-friendly adventure activities are great for the body and mind, and gentle on the environment. Suitable for all ages.
Well-appointed swimming pool near River Kwai. Let you swim in a relaxing and beautiful environment. Hearing the peaceful sounds of nature while immersing yourself for a refreshing day.
Our open-air hotspring footbath is available for free for hotel guests. It is located against a backdrop of the magnificent scenery around the lake at Home Phutoey River Kwai. Hot spring foot bath opens all day long. During 7.00– 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 – 9.00 p.m., you will get the warmest temperature.
Here you can just lie down around the swimming pool area or at the pier. Sun bathing in the tropical jungle is also ideal to your relaxation because a high level of air moist protects your skin from severe sunburn.
Home Phutoey River Kwai has its own ‘real’waterfalls on site and we call it ‘Kanya’. Kanya is a month of September in Thai.
September is the rainy month when the flow of the waterfalls is immerse and most beautiful. It is located only few minutes walk from our hotel reception. It is a stop when you hike around the resort. The resort map is available at the reception.
Taking a relaxing walk / hiking in the jungle. Map is available at the reception.
Owing to the abundance of the forest and also next to national park reserve, there are numerous birds such as Hornbills, Kingfishers and egrets etc. living around the lake.
