The temple was founded in 1857 by King Mongkut (Rama IV) as a place of worship near his Sa Pathum Palace.

At the time of its founding the area was still only rice fields, only accessible via the Khlong Saen Saeb.

Among the various buildings of the temple is a sala partially reconstructed from the crematorium of the late Princess Mother of Thailand.

The crematorium was a rare example of ancient craftsmanship featuring ornate stencils and lacquered sculptures.

[1] In 2010, during the crackdown of Red Shirts anti-government protesters, Wat Pathum Wanaram was used as a "safe zone" for injured people to get first aid.