Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Building

The Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Building is one of Prachinburi’s most remarkable landmarks, combining history, architecture, and traditional medicine in a single place. It is located inside the Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital on Prachin Anusorn Road, just 2.5 kilometers from the city center. The building is a two-story European-style Renaissance structure, featuring a front portico, a central dome, and elegant stucco decorations of floral motifs above doors and windows.

 

The building was commissioned in 1909 by Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr, using his personal wealth, as a royal residence for King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) should he revisit Prachinburi. However, the king passed away in 1910 before it could be used. Later, the building served as a temporary royal residence for King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1912, as well as other members of the royal family during visits to Prachinburi.

 

Although never used as a private residence by its patron, the building played an important role as the hospital’s administration building. The ground floor was used for patient consultation, a dispensary, and surgery rooms, while the upper floor served as a female ward until 1969 when the new administration building was completed. In 1990, the Fine Arts Department registered the building as a national historic site, and on June 24, 1996, it was officially opened as the Abhaibhubejhr Thai Traditional Medicine Museum.

 

The museum showcases the history of the building, royal physicians, Thai traditional medicine, and local healing practices. Exhibits include traditional medical tools such as medicine cabinets, grinding stones, knives, palm-leaf manuscripts, and medical texts dating back to the Dvaravati period. The museum serves not only as a cultural landmark but also as a center for research, conservation, and education in Thai traditional medicine and herbal knowledge.

 

In addition, Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital has become a national pioneer in traditional medicine. Its “Health Tour Project” received an Outstanding Tourism Award in 2003 for promoting health tourism through herbal treatments, massage, herbal steam, compress therapy, acupuncture, and the development of herbal products into medicines and cosmetics. This reflects the successful integration of cultural heritage with modern healthcare and tourism.