🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Building stops people for photos before they've even stepped inside. The yellow facade trimmed in white, the Baroque-era European shape, the dome in the middle of the roof — it looks like someone lifted a small palace and set it down in the middle of Prachinburi. What makes it interesting is that it isn't just a pretty building to photograph: inside is a Thai traditional medicine museum that genuinely tells the story of Thai herbs well, and you can visit without paying an entry fee.
Where the building came from
The mansion was completed in 1909 (so it's well over a hundred years old now) by Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr, the last governor of Battambang. He built it with his own money, intending it as a residence to receive King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) during his royal tour of the Prachin region. But the king passed away before he could stay here, so the building later became a residence of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) instead.
Something a lot of people don't know: this building has a "twin" — a sibling mansion over in Battambang, Cambodia, which Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr built before moving back to the Thai side. The two look so much alike that they're known as the twin mansions linking Prachinburi and Battambang.
The building itself is a two-storey brick-and-mortar structure, designed and built by the Howard Erskine company. It has a hipped roof clad in small wavy tiles, with a dome at the centre topped by a metal rooster weathervane. The front has a projecting porch and a rooftop terrace. Today it's officially registered as a historic monument.
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What's on display inside
These days the building is open as the Abhaibhubejhr Thai Traditional Medicine Museum. Walk up inside and you'll find exhibits on the life of the governor, traditional Thai medicines, and the herbal wisdom that became the origin of the Abhaibhubejhr brand many of us know. The interior still keeps the feel of an old building — wooden floors, staircases, and louvered windows — and it's an easy, enjoyable half-hour stroll.
- Old medicine manuals — a collection of antique medical texts laying out traditional ways of preparing herbal remedies
- Thai traditional medicine tools — herbal medicine cabinets, grinding equipment, and treatment implements from the old days
- The story of Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr — the history of the Battambang governor and the origins of the building
- Thai herb corner — local herbs explained alongside their uses, the ones that grew into Abhaibhubejhr products
Tips for visiting
The museum is open daily 08:00–16:00, free of charge — no entry fee. But the building sits inside hospital grounds, and it gets busy mid-morning. If you want a clean shot of the building with no people in it, come right around opening, about 8–9am, when the light is still soft and the crowd is thin.
Best spots for photos
The spot most people shoot from is straight on in front of the building, filling the frame with the yellow facade and capturing the central dome and the front porch. In the early morning the sun isn't harsh yet, so the building's colour comes out fresh and vivid. If you're into details, try the terrace, the louvered windows, and the arched side bays — you really get that old European-building feel.
- Straight-on front — step back far enough to get the whole building and the dome; it's the iconic shot most people take
- 45-degree angle — captures the depth of the porch and side terrace, so the building looks more three-dimensional than a straight shot
- Architectural details — louvered windows, arched bays, and stucco work are great for close-ups
- Inside the building — the wooden staircase and the hall catch nice light; photos are fine, but go gently — this is a museum
A small note on etiquette
Because the building sits in hospital grounds and is a museum, dress modestly, keep your voice down, and don't climb on the structure for photos. This is a historic monument that's still in active use — we'd all like the next generation to be able to see it for a long time to come.
More to do right next door
The nice thing about this place is that everything is in the same grounds, all within walking distance. Once you've finished photographing the building, a few more steps gets you to the herbal shop and the day spa — no need to drive anywhere else.
Abhaibhubejhr Herbal Shop
Sells genuine Abhaibhubejhr products straight from the source — herbal medicines, inhalers, soaps, creams, and balms. Great for picking up souvenirs to take home.
Abhaibhubejhr Day Spa
A separate building in the same grounds, offering herbal massage, foot massage, oil massage, and beauty treatments. The therapeutic spa is open Wednesday–Sunday, 09:00–20:00.
Café and herbal restaurant
Out front of the day spa there's a coffee shop and drinks; round the back is a restaurant with herb-based dishes. Open daily, roughly 08:00–17:00 — a good place to recharge before heading on.
Getting there and when to go
The Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Building is inside Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital on Prachin Anusorn Road, Tha Ngam subdistrict, Mueang district — not far from the centre of Prachinburi town. Driving from Bangkok takes about 2 hours, either via the motorway or Route 304. There's parking at the hospital, but on weekdays when there are lots of patients it can fill up, so a weekday morning or a weekend tends to feel more relaxed.
- Opening hours — the museum is open daily 08:00–16:00, free entry
- Time needed — photos, the museum walk-through, and a stop at the herbal shop come to about 1–1.5 hours
- Good to combine — easy to pair with the Abhaibhubejhr herb garden or the herbal restaurant in the same day
Plan a full Prachinburi trip — herbs, nature, and food all in one
See the Prachinburi travel guide →