Kanchanaburi       Arresting scenic beauty. Forested mountains. Waterfalls. Pristine national parks. Tranquil riverine and reservoir settings. Leisure opportunities including jungle treks employing elephants and rafts. Historical associations dating from Neolithic times to the Second World War.      Thailand’s third largest province, Kanchanaburi covers some 19,473 square and oftentimes mountainous kilometres, and borders Myanmar (Burma) to the west of Bangkok. The compact provincial capital, some 130 kilometres, and a comfortable two-hour drive from Bangkok, is both the site of the world-famous Bridge Over The River Kwae, immortalised in books and movies, and gateway to a region of rugged natural beauty. Countryside beyond the provincial capital is characterised by mountains and fertile river valleys (the Kwae Yai and Kwae Noi) which have inspired the development of hydro-electric power, and where labyrinthine dam reservoirs provide further scenic elements to the province’s natural beauty.