Benjakitti Park

Benjakitti Park
Benjakitti Park
	Benchakitti Park, Bangkok
Type	Urban Park
Location	Ratchadapisek Road (between Rama IV Road and Sukhumvit Road), Khlong Toei, Bangkok, Thailand
Coordinates	13°43′45.84″N 100°33′30.96″E / 13.7294000°N 100.5586000°E
Area	52 acres (21 ha)
Created	9 December 2004
Operated by	Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
Status	Open from 4.30 a.m. to 21.00 p.m.

Benjakitti Park^[1] (Thai: สวนเบญจกิติ, RTGS: Benchakitti) is a public park in the Khlong Toei District of central Bangkok; situated next to the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. It is close to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre MRT Station, Sukhumvit MRT Station and Asok BTS Station.

History[]

It was officially opened in 2004 (on land formally owned by the Tobacco Authority of Thailand) to honor the 72nd birthday of Queen Sirikit.^[2] Before that, it had been in operation since 1992, the year the Queen turned 60 (5th cycle), hence the name "Bejakitti" (5 cycles). The name "Benjakitti" was given by Queen Sirikit during the opening. Benjakitti Park has a landmark symbol called “Pathumthani” near the pond.^[3] Benjakitti Park was developed from Tobacco pond area 200x800 meters, built by digging and reclamation. This park was part of the project replacement area from resolutions in the government of Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun.

Between 1 and 9 December 2014, this park was used for performing theater and a spectacular technique to commemorate the King "The Phra Mahathat The Phenomenal Life Show" by the stage in the middle of the pond over 100 meters which is the longest water stage in the country.^[4] After that, the Tobacco Monopoly gave 61 rai (97,600 square meters) more to build Benjakitti forest park to celebrate Queen Sirikit birthday in 2006, which makes Benjakitti park became the first park in Bangkok which has forest park.^[5] It includes a central boating lake, an outdoor exercise area, a cycling track^[6] and a path that is used by walkers and joggers;^[7] bicycles and boats can be hired in the park.^[8]

The park is bridged to another public park, Lumphini Park by a 1.3 km long elevated pedestrian walkway and bicycle trail at the southwest corner of the park.^[9]