Reconnecting with Nature: Exploring Benjakitti Forest Park in Asoke

Tucked between Bangkok’s sleek skyscrapers and bustling streets,  offers a rare breath of calm in the heart of Asoke. Once an industrial site, it has been transformed into a lush urban forest where elevated walkways, lotus ponds, and quiet trails invite visitors to slow down and reconnect with nature.

In this article, we’ll take you through the park’s highlights, how to get there from S15 Hotel, and the best ways to enjoy this green escape during your stay in Bangkok.

From Tobacco Factory to Urban Oasis

The site that now hosts Benjakitti Forest Park was once home to a tobacco factory and industrial buildings. Over time, planners and landscape architects envisioned a future where this land could be revitalized. Not just as a park, but as a resilient ecosystem interwoven with water, vegetation, and public space.

In 2022, the forested extension officially opened, adding a new dimension to the original park and realizing the vision of Bangkok’s first “forest park.” The design was carried out by Turenscape in collaboration with Arsomsilp Landscape Studio, employing an ecological strategy inspired by the “sponge city” concept: the park collects, filters, and retains rainwater to mitigate flooding and improve water quality.

Today, Benjakitti Forest Park spans roughly 102 acres (about 720,000 m²) and features a network of mounded isles, wetlands, lakes, boardwalks, and elevated walkways that weave through its natural and semi-wild zones.

How to Reach Benjakitti Forest Park from S15 Hotel

One of the great advantages of staying at S15 Hotel is your proximity to Asoke, making Benjakitti Forest Park easily accessible.

• By BTS / MRT: The nearest transit points are Asok BTS Station (Sukhumvit line) or Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre MRT Station (Blue line). From either, it’s a pleasant walk or short ride to the park’s entrances.
• By foot or bike: If you’re feeling energetic, you can walk or cycle via connecting streets and green paths. The hotel-to-park journey becomes part of the experience, your transition from urban to natural ambiance.
• By taxi: A quick drive or ride will drop you conveniently near one of the park’s gates.

What to See & Do in the Park

Benjakitti Forest Park offers a variety of features and experiences that appeal to both nature lovers and contemplative wanderers. Here are highlights to explore:

Elevated Walkways & Boardwalks

Graceful elevated paths rise through tree canopies and wetlands, offering changing vantage points of the landscape and city skyline. These elevated routes help visitors traverse the park without disturbing sensitive ecosystems below.

Mounded Islands and Wetland Lakes

The heart of the forest park features biomorphic islets and water bodies that act like stepping stones, both aesthetic and functional. Some of these lakes can hold a million cubic meters of stormwater, helping the city manage flood risk while filtering urban runoff.  

The landscaping leverages native wetland and forest flora, creating varied habitats. Over 300 plant species have been planted to support biodiversity and ecological resilience. 

Amphitheater and Plaza

A circular amphitheater framed by berms and reflecting pools serves as a gathering spot, echoing the shapes of the park’s water features and promoting communal use. 

Multi-use Recreational Trails

Walking paths, jogging loops, and bicycle lanes weave through the park, allowing visitors to choose their pace.

Connectivity to Lumphini Park

At its southwest corner, Benjakitti Forest Park links to Lumphini Park via a 1.3 km elevated green pedestrian and cycling path (often called the “Green Bridge”). This lets visitors traverse between two of Bangkok’s major green spaces without stepping onto car roads.

Wildlife & Quiet Discovery

Even within a city, this forested zone hosts frogs, insects, birds, and sometimes lizards, small surprises in the quiet corners of wetland pockets and shaded groves. 

Tips for Visitors & Best Time to Visit

• Best times: Early morning (around 5:30–7:30 a.m.) and late afternoon (from about 4:30 onward) are ideal: cooler light, fewer crowds, and tranquil ambience.
• Park hours: The park typically opens early and closes around 9:00 p.m.
• Entry fee: Admission is free.
• What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), insect repellent, and a camera. Also, bring a water bottle and light snacks if you plan to linger.
• Mind the weather: Bangkok’s afternoon storms can be unpredictable. Keep an eye on rain forecasts and avoid low-lying sections if water levels rise.
• Respect nature: Stay on designated paths, don’t litter, and avoid disturbing wildlife.
• Connectivity: The walkways and paths are generally well maintained, but some sections may be narrow or near water. Exercise caution, particularly after rain.

Why Benjakitti Forest Park Matters

Benjakitti Forest Park is more than a pretty green space. It exemplifies a forward-looking approach to urban design:

• Environmental resilience. The park functions as a buffer against flooding and helps treat contaminated urban runoff, storing 128,000 m³ of rainwater and producing up to 1,600 m³ of clean water daily.
• Biophilic restoration. In a dense part of Bangkok, the forest park restores layers of nature, creating ecological corridors and habitat pockets.
• Social equity. Offering free access and easy connectivity, it brings nature within reach for city dwellers and travelers alike.
• Symbolic innovation. It has become a flagship for sustainable urban planning in Southeast Asia, a demonstration of how a former industrial site can become regenerative and life-giving.

Conclusion

For guests seeking a tranquil escape from the dynamic rhythms of Bangkok, Benjakitti Forest Park offers something rare: nature woven into the urban fabric, a place to replenish the senses without leaving the city. Its thoughtful design, ecological function, and aesthetic beauty all serve to bridge the gap between Bangkok’s high-rises and the restorative power of green spaces.

At S15 Hotel, a boutique hotel Asoke, you’re perfectly placed to include this nature interlude in your stay. Whether for a pre-dawn walk, a post-lunch respite, or a soft evening meander, a tour of Benjakitti Forest Park is a meaningful way to reconnect. With nature, with calm, and with the hidden layers of Bangkok waiting just beyond the skyline.