The official name of the temple is Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram วัดเบญจมบพิตรดุสิตวนาราม, which means “the Monastery of the fifth King near Dusit Palace”, the fifth King being King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). It is classified as a first class Royal temple.
Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaran is often referred to by Bangkok locals as Wat Ben but most visitors may know it better as the Marble Temple. One of Thailand’s most famous temples, Wat Benchamabophit was featured on the back of Thailand’s 5 Baht coins.
Construction of the temple began in 1899 at the request of King Chulalongkorn after building his palace nearby. It was designed by Prince Naris, a half-brother of the king, and is built of Italian marble. This temple was built on the site of an Ayutthaya period temple and was known as Wat Laem or Wat Sai Thong.
Wat Benchamabophit is not heavily promoted as a tourist destination like Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, it tends to draw a ...
The Ayutthaya Historical Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site) has no general entrance fee for the park itself, but individual major temples charge admission for foreigners. The key temples now charge 80 Baht each. For visitors planning to see multiple sites, a combined/all-inclusive ticket priced at 300 Baht covers 7 key temples managed by the Fine Arts Department. This pass offers good value compared to paying individually (80 Baht × 7 = 560 Baht, saving 260 Baht).
The 7 temples included in this 300 Baht ticket are:
1. Wat Phra Mahathat
One of the most iconic and visited temples, famous for the Buddha head entwined in the roots of a sacred fig tree—a surreal, photogenic symbol of nature reclaiming the ruins. The site includes ancient stupas, viharns, and many Buddha images.
2. Wat Ratchaburana
Built in the 15th century, known for its striking central prang (Khmer-style tower) with restored stucco work and murals. It features a large chedi and underground crypt discoveries.
3. Wat Phra Si Sanphet
The most ...
Phra Nakhon Khiri Festival
The 39th Phra Nakhon Khiri Festival is currently underway in Phetchaburi, Thailand, from February 20 to March 1, 2026, under the theme "Wiman Fah Phra Nakhon Khiri: The Jewel of Siam".
This annual event features cultural displays, local food, and vibrant fireworks, offering visitors a chance to experience the rich heritage and culinary delights of Phetchaburi.
During the festival the Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park is open to the public for free. Normally it’s 200 Baht per person to visit.
Phetchaburis well-known landmark, the locally known as Khao Wang (Palace Hill) is located up on a 92-meter high verdant hill, in the city of Phetchaburi.
It was built under the royal command of King Rama IV and in 1860 became his summer palace. The whole compound is comprised of royal halls, palaces, temples and other buildings which were elegantly constructed in a well-balanced Thai, neoclassical Western and Chinese architectural styles.
The east side is situated by important ...
The match between Port FC and Muangthong United took place on March 1, 2026, in the Thai League 1 (Round 23). It was hosted by Muangthong United at Thunderdome Stadium, with kickoff at 7:00 PM.
The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
It was a tightly contested, low-scoring affair with no goals in either half. Port FC extended their unbeaten run against Muangthong United in recent meetings (they hadn’t lost in the last 5 encounters prior, with 4 wins and 1 draw, and this added another draw). Muangthong United, struggling in the standings (around 15th place with a poor record), earned a valuable point at home, while Port FC were held despite their stronger form.
A notable off-field detail: Port FC’s head coach Alexandre Gama was absent due to hospitalization in ICU (serious condition reported), with the club providing support and likely needing an interim replacement.
The run for a top 4 spot continues for port with just over a month remaining in the season. For MT they will need to continue to battle...
