Wat Benjamaborpit

Traving the story of the great King it today one of Thailand’s most beautiful heritage sites.

Originally, the Wat Benjamaborpit compound was the site of an ancient temple named “Wat Laem” or “Wat Saithong.” The exact date of its founding is still unknown. Later, in the reign of King Rama IV, or King Mongkut, he renamed the temple “Wat Benjaborpit” which means “the temple of five royal representatives.”

In the reign of King Chulalongkorn in 1898 he wanted to create a royal park for his recreational activities. Therefore, he initiated the plan to build the Suan Dusit Park, which covered the area where the ruined temple Benjamabotpit was located. He then introduced the idea of rebuilding the temple to be more magnificently beautiful with five main goals in mind-demonstrating his pat6ronage of the Buddhist religion, creating a good example of ancient Thai architecture, establishing a museum to house ancient Buddha images built in different countries and eras, establishing a monks college, and finally, building a monument to his reign

Wat Benjamaborpit, commonly know as “the Marble Temple,” features a chaple and a royal terrace, or Pra Rabieng, made of the best marble imported from Italy, The Pra Rabieng is used as a museum to exhibit more than 52 Buddha images created in Thailand and other countries. The temple was designed with a beautiful plan reflecting the value of Thai art. The king had great faith in his religion and cherished the Buddhist establishment because it was considered one of the king’s primary duties to give his patronage to the religion. Therefore, in the year 1899 he officially established the Marble Temple and gave it the new name “Benjamaborpit,” which means “the temple of king Rama V,” from then on.In the temple compound there is a significant This royal monastery used to be located in the Grand Palace where King Chulalongkorn stayed when he was a monk in the year 1873.After that he ordered the monastery to be moved and rebuilt at Wat Benjamaborpit. In the monastery they now have a display of the bed King Chulalongkorn used when he was monk, photographs of him as a monk, and some marble sculptures that he donated to the temple. These are about 20 photos of King Chulalongkorn hanging on the monastery’s wall.

On the opposite side of the compound is the two-story Songthamma royal building that was the royal residence of king Chulalongkorn while he was a monk. Within the temple compound there is also a bridge made of concrete and steel across the canal. The rail of the bridge features beautiful Thai art designs.

Another building in the compound is Sala Si Somdit, which is used as  the hall of the drum. It is a very special drum made from a whole log of the Pterocarpus or Pra Do tree, which was used in ceremonies held in the North. Walking through the temple, beautiful scenery and monastery buildings appear every where you lay eyes. Next door to the temple is Benjamaborpit Sachool, marked by a two-story European building called the “Buddhachaoluand Building” or the “King Chulalongkorn Building.” Presently, the pink building has been preserved as a national treasure.

Today Thai people are especially proud to have such a magnificent marble monastery with fine architecture to show the world the power of the late great king’s faith in Buddhism. It is a spectacular monument that constantly draws attention from people around the world.