Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple)

Wat Benchamabophit, known as the Marble Temple, is in the Dusit district north of the Old Town. Its ordination hall was built at the end of the 19th century under King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and is clad in white Italian marble — an unusual blend of Thai temple architecture with European materials and details, including stained-glass windows.

It's quieter, smaller and more ordered than the big Old Town temples, which is exactly why some people prefer it.

Why it looks the way it does

The temple was rebuilt from 1899 under King Chulalongkorn, who had spent time in Europe and was modernising the country. The hall was designed by his half-brother, Prince Naris (Narisara Nuwattiwongse), one of the most important Thai architects and artists of the period, and the marble was imported from Carrara in Italy. The result is still clearly a Thai temple — the tiered roofs, the gables, the guardian lions — built in a European material.

The main Buddha image inside is a copy of the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat in Phitsanulok, one of the most revered images in Thailand, and the ashes of King Chulalongkorn are interred beneath its base. The temple is pictured on the back of the Thai 5-baht coin.

What to see

• The ordination hall (ubosot) — the marble building itself, with its tiered orange roofs and the large seated Buddha image inside. The stained glass is the detail most visitors miss.
• The gallery of Buddha images in the cloister behind the hall: dozens of statues in different regional and historical styles, a quick visual guide to how Buddha images have changed across Asia.
• The canal and bridges in the grounds.

Tickets and hours

Most listings give 50 THB for foreign visitors to enter the inner temple area, with the outer grounds free; a few give lower figures. Hours are roughly 8am to 6pm, though sources differ by up to half an hour. Count your change.

When to go

Early morning is calmest, and the temple area is one of the places where you may see monks collecting alms soon after dawn. Late afternoon is pleasant too. Don't expect the scale of Wat Pho: allow 30–45 minutes.

Dress code

Shoulders and knees covered. Wraps are sold on site if you need one.

Is it worth the detour?

Getting there

The Marble Temple isn't near a rail station. Take a taxi or Grab, or combine it with a visit to Dusit or the Golden Mount, which is about ten minutes away by car. MRT Sam Yot is the closest station but still a long walk in the heat.

• Best Temples in BangkokYou don't need to see ten temples. You need to see the right three, in the right order, and maybe one quiet one where you can actually sit down.
• Bangkok Old Town (Rattanakosin)The historic royal heart of the city, and where most first trips begin. It is also more pleasant to stay in than most visitors assume.