Erawan Shrine, Bangkok 
Erawan Shrine by night. Photo by Daniel Cheong.
See our Erawan Shrine Photo Gallery for many more pictures.
Another shimmery night view. Photo by Jill Shih.
Financial and spiritual meet in Bangkok: Erawan Shrine and Burberry.
Photo by Hirotomo Oi.
Local Thais make offerings at the Erawan Shrine. Photo by weiss-lange.
Thai dancers can often be seen at Erawan. Photo by Fern Leyder.
The Erawan Shrine (officially named Thao Maha Brahma) in Bangkok is not old, but is an interesting testament of the role of religion in modern Thai society.
History
The shrine was built in 1956 to appease the supposed evil forces that were taking the lives of construction workers and causing other calamities in the construction what is now the Grand Hyatt Erawan. After the shrine was erected, construction deaths stopped and the hotel grew very prosperous.
What to See
The Erawan Shrine consists of a simple statue of the four-faced Hindu god Brahma, named Than Tao Mahaprom. It sits in an unassuming corner of the hotel grounds, but the curative effect of building the monument meant that the shrine became, and is, one of the most revered spots in the kingdom.
The area is crowded with worshippers day and night and always wafting with incense smoke. It is common to see people bowing as they pass by bus, taxi or above by skytrain.
Look for the Erawan Shrine on the northwest corner of the Grand Hyatt Erawan property, near the Chit Lom stop on the skytrain.
Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Erawan Shrine. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Bangkok Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- Frommer's Thailand
