Culture & Religion

Most of the people of Kanchanaburi share the cultural and religious beliefs of the other provinces of central Thailand, which are predominantly Buddhist. Kanchanaburi's inhabitants are mostly of Thai ancestry with notable Mon and Karen minorities. Rural dwellers enjoy folk music and dances dating back at least 500 years and which feature distinctive songs and long drums. Such performances are re-enacted each year at Phanom Thuan district, 24 km northeast of the provincial capital.

A number of minority groups from Myanmar are concentrated in the border areas, around Sangkhla Buri, either as a result of internal repression and insurgency, or cross-border trading activities. The Karens constitute the largest minority group in the area. They have their own animist religion and distinct cultural beliefs and lifestyle. Traditionally, Karens cultivate by crop rotation rather than slash-and-burn agriculture, and are among the least nomadic of the minority hill tribes.

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