A Brief Guide to the Best Bangkok Shrines
Bangkok, being the colourful, diverse and contrasting place that it is, has its own unique array of shrines and spirit houses on display pretty much everywhere around the city.
For those who may have spotted such shrines on previous visits who were wondering what these bright and often heavily-decorated places of worship, often situated in a busy street or city-centre location are all about, they’d have to first get their head around the ‘version’ of Buddhism adhered to by the Thais, which is commonly practiced in the SE Asian region of which Thailand is a part.
Check out our post on Thai Buddhism for real insights on this complex matter, but in a nutshell we are talking a mix of different aspects of religion or worship originating in India by way of Brahmanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Animism (including ancestor worship or respect), with a fair dose of superstition and belief in the supernatural to boot, too.
Hence the shrines, and perhaps to a lesser extent the spirit houses, are thought to imbue the person praying (or even the nearby building, whether commercial or residential, in front of which they are often strategically located) with specific blessings or protections, once a prayer and perhaps an offering of incense, fruit, sweets, or drink has been proffered.
The Hindu Deity-type shrines on the streets of prominent city-centre areas are impressive affairs, with golden statues often housed in a structure and altar scenario, where you will see droves of locals praying and offering or seeking blessings of some particular orientation.
The spirit houses are much smaller, almost dollhouse-sized affairs, with ’spirits’ often represented by small, human-like figures within the houses. These houses are again set in what are considered to be auspicious locations, ensuring that the indwelling spirit will proffer the maximum protection and benefit to the residents or workers within said building.
Although you are likely to find spirit houses of some description in or atop pretty much every residence in the city, shrines will more likely be found in prominent business districts and busy tourist areas like Ratchprasong, in Bangkok’s shopping central region.
Here among the high-rises and megamall complexes, are places of worship where locals are to be found paying respect specific images of sacredness thought to grant anything from love, to happiness, good fortune, success, and luck, and even fertility, apparently.
Absolutely the most concentrated area of shrines dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses is around the Ratchaprasong junction. Although this particular area has some degree of historic value, the fact that it is thick with commercial buildings is a dead giveaway.
The most popular and well-known of all the Bangkok shrines (and the one we begin our list with today) is located in this section of the city, and is visited by throngs of gatherers every day, consisting of both locals and tourists.
So join us as we take you on a brief guide to Bangkok’s best shrines.
1. The Erawan Shrine
The Erawan Shrine is directly in front of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, on the corner of 2 prominent city-centre roads, Ploenchit and Ratchadamri. It easy to find as you’ll a see crowds paying their respects or praying, usually with a small presentation of jasmine and incense sticks.
The Erawan shrine is a huge, golden image of a 4-faced Brahma God known as ‘Than Tao Mahaprom’, or ‘Phra Pom’, thought to represent the qualities of compassion. This is also the shrine most commonly-visited by visitors from around the world who stop by to make ceremonial offerings of incense sticks and floral garlands in a bid to gain merit.
The Erawan Shrine even plays host to renditions of Thai classical dance a couple of times a day, as well presenting various other performances on special occasions.
Location:Ratchadamri Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
2. Trimurti Shrine
The Trimurti is the Bangkok shrine where you are most likely to see lovelorn singles turning up to light incense and pay respects. This is largely due to the fact that Trimurti is considered as the god of love in Hindu lore, and represents the 3 aspects of God in the Hindu trinity, namely Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver) and Shiva (the Destroyer).
Many superstitious Thais females even believe Trimurti has a bent towards matching potential foreign mates with deserved Thai partners, and the time to hit the shrine if this is your thing is on a Thursday evening when it can get quite crowded.
The deity enshrined at this spot is another golden affair, this time with 2 heads and 4 arms, and there is a fairly wide area around the shrine with seats for any observers.
The Trimurti Shrine is a considered as one of the landmark shrines in the city, and can be found in front of the huge shopping complex that is CentralWorld in the Siam region of the city.
Location:999/9 Rama I Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
3. The Ganesh Shrine
The Ganesh shrine in Bangkok is just opposite to the Trimurti Shrine, and is another important landmark Hindu shrine in the area.
Ganesh, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is believed to be a master of intellect and wisdom, and thus it is artistic success and accomplishment that visitors who come here are seeking to be blessed with.
The Hindu deity Ganesh is one of the more commonly-seen of the Hindu set, and is recognisable from his elephant head and otherwise human components, albeit with many arms, and a big belly.
Those related to particular fields of arts are likely to come to Ganesh, the Destroyer of Obstacles, and he is often prayed to by artists or craftsmen about to begin a delicate artistic process. Ganesh is also believed to be the god of good fortune and is thus the object of many a businessmen’s affectations.
Whereas worshippers are likely to leave a red rose on the Trimurti shrine, for Ganesh it is customarily a red lotus. As with the majority of other Bangkok shrines, you will find this one surrounded by and covered with a variety of small effigies, garlands, sweets, and fruits.
Location: 999/9 Rama I Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
4. Lakshmi Shrine
The Lakshmi Shrine in Bangkok is a shrine to be the guardian angel of the Ratchaprasong district, this time in the form of a goddess of the same name. The shrine itself is to be found in an upscale shopping mall known as Gaysorn Plaza, directly opposite to the Erawan Shrine at the junction.
In Hindu lore Lakshmi is the goddess good fortune and wealth, with the name in Sanskrit apparently meaning aim, or ambition. Lakshimi was in fact Vishnu’s consort as the story goes, and it is said that the goddess was reborn each time Vishnu reincarnated in human form.
Lakshimi plays an important role in the October Hindu Festival of lights, as she is also the goddess celebrated as bringing wealth into households.
Gaysorn Plaza is a circular building, with a plush, bright and luxurious interior that somewhat resembles a 5-star hotel. And with all this luxury at hand, it seems only fitting to leave the overseeing of affairs to a deity who brings wealth and good fortune.
The shrine is actually located on the 4th floor of the building, which is a little unusual as shrines are normally in front of buildings in Thailand.
The Lakshimi shrine can be seen in all its glory in a 4th-floor roof garden, glittering in the sunshine, four arms extended, lotus buds in hands, completely golden. The shrine is right at the corner of the Gaysorn Plaza building, overlooking the junction, and just across the road from the Erawan.
Location: 999 Phloenchit Road, Gaysorn Plaza, Siam, Bangkok
BTS: Chit lom
5. Vishnu Shrine
The Vishnu Shrine is, rather unsurprisingly, also near the busy Ratchaprasong junction, this time situated right in front of the Intercontinental Hotel, near the Chit lom skytrain station.
Vishnu is one of the major Hindu deities, the protector and preserver of creation, and is known in Hindu lore for his nine reincarnations.
This shrine sees Vishnu standing on the shoulders of his steed Garuda, the king of birds, who takes the form of half man/half bird, with the head, beak, talons and wings of an eagle on the limbs and body of a man. (The Garuda is, by way of chance, also featured on the official crest of the Kingdom of Thailand.)
With the inherent influence of Hinduism on Thai Buddhism and culture, it’s not surprising to see images of a god like Vishnu all over Bangkok and Thailand.
Location: Intercontinental Hotel, Ratchaprasong, Chit Lom, Bangkok
BTS: Chit lom
6. K’uan Yin Shrine (The Goddess of Mercy on the Chao Phraya River)
Besides the Hindu influence, the Chinese have also had a huge influence in some areas of Bangkok, and this is a fact evidenced by a fair number of shrines in and around the city.
One of the most famous is the K’uan Yin Shrine, which was actually built by the Chinese community that thrived along the Chao Phraya River during the times of King Rama III in the mid-19th century.
The Kuan Yin Shrine in Bangkok stands in a Chinese region of the city that has existed for more than 200 years, although there were originally two shrines built in the reign of King Taksin. These buildings were replaced, sometime during the reign of King Rama III when the shrine was rebuilt to house K’uan Yin, the goddess of mercy.
Kuan Yin, an ancient Chinese goddess, is thought to embody the virtues of love, kindness, and compassion, and is part of a 3,000-year-old story involving a Chinese king and his daughter.
The early Chinese immigrants who moved to Bangkok continued the tradition of K’uan Yin reverie and worship by way of constructing the shrine for the Goddess of Mercy along the Chao Phraya River near where they lived, in the hope of receiving her guidance, mercy, and blessings.
Location: 230 Thetsaban Sai 1 Road, Wat Kanlaya, Thonburi, Bangkok 10600
7. The Phallus Shrine
Ready yourself next for nothing less than the Bangkok Phallus Shrine. Here is an area adorned with literally hundreds of phalluses, including small, wooden carved affairs to somewhat larger stone sculptures.
And before you start wondering if you’ve unwittingly stumbled into the beer garden of a ping-pong show on steroids – fear not. Phallic imagery, as it turns out, is not exactly uncommon in Thailand, the reason being that Thai Buddhism borrows much from India’s ancient Hinduism, along with various other flavours, and many spiritual symbols feature prominently in the Brahmanic and Hindu religions, with the ‘lingam’, or phallus, being one of them.
This particular type of phallus has its origins in tales of the Hindu god Shiva. They are sold at many markets and amulet fares, usually as good luck amulets.
Apparently this shrine is in honour of a female fertility spirit known as Chao Mae Tubtim, and it is not uncommon for women to visit this shrine when they are trying to conceive. People coming here leave the same kind of offerings as can be found at any other shrine.
Women will come back if their wishes have been successful, and they will then place yet another phallus at the shrine as thanks and respect. Judging by the sheep nmber of items within the shrine, apparently it has high rates of success!
The phallus’ are also believed to be able to exhibit or influence some bizarre mystical power regarding the flow of cash, so needless to say you might happen across them in seemingly unusual places, particularly in relation to businesses or selling and you’ll even likely catch sight of one dangling from the rear-view mirror of a taxi.
The Phallus Shrine can be found in the grounds of Nai Lert Park in the heart of Bangkok.
Location:Nai Lert Park, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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