Erawan Shrine Bangkok: A Respectful Visit
Contents
The Erawan Shrine is a compact, open-air Hindu shrine in the middle of Bangkok's Ratchaprasong intersection, in front of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel on Ratchadamri Road. Its central figure is Phra Phrom, the four-faced Hindu god of builders, and Thai and foreign visitors come to pay their respects among the traffic, flowers and incense.[1] It is an easy stop on a walk around Ratchaprasong.
The story starts with the Erawan Hotel, planned in 1951. After mishaps during construction, a Navy doctor and meditation master advised the hotel to honour Phra Phrom, and the shrine was built as soon as the hotel was finished. The gilded plaster statue was installed on 9 November 1956.[1] The four faces look in the four directions, north, south, east and west, so that Phra Phrom can watch over everything.[1] Today the Than Tao Mahaprom Foundation looks after the shrine.[1] The Erawan Shrine overview of the Tourism Authority of Thailand tells the full history.
Plan a respectful visit
You can visit and worship at the shrine every day, free of charge.[1] Offerings and dance performances are optional extras, not part of the visit. If you want one, ask the provider for the price before you agree.
Things to Do
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Getting there
The shrine stands on Ratchadamri Road at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Pathum Wan.[1] The nearest BTS Skytrain stations are Chit Lom (E1) on the Sukhumvit Line and Ratchadamri (S1) on the Silom Line.[2] Check the station signs and a live map for the best exit.
Make it part of a wider stop
A short visit takes only a few minutes, and you can add a longer walk around Ratchaprasong if you like. The shrine is an active place of worship, so keep the approach clear, watch how worshippers use the space and ask before photographing people. Follow any directions posted at the site.
For wider trip planning, see our Thailand travel overview.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Tourism Authority of Thailand: Erawan Shrine. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [2] BTS Skytrain (official Area Map): Area Map. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an open-air Hindu shrine at Bangkok's Ratchaprasong intersection, in front of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel. Its central figure is Phra Phrom, a four-faced Hindu god of builders.
It stands on Ratchadamri Road at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Pathum Wan, in front of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel.
The statue of Phra Phrom was installed on 9 November 1956.
No. You can visit and worship at the shrine every day, free of charge.
Chit Lom (E1) on the Sukhumvit Line and Ratchadamri (S1) on the Silom Line. Check the station signs and a live map for the best exit.
A short visit takes only a few minutes. Allow longer if you want to explore the surrounding Ratchaprasong area.
They are optional extras, not part of the visit. If you want one, ask the provider for the price before you agree.
