Erawan Shrine

The Erawan Shrine holds a gilded four-faced statue of the Hindu god Brahma (called Phra Phrom in Thai) at the corner of Ratchadamri and Phloen Chit — one of the busiest intersections in the city. It was built in 1956 to end a run of bad luck during the construction of the original Erawan Hotel next door, and the shrine's reputation for granting wishes spread across Asia so completely that today it draws pilgrims from Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia as much as from Thailand itself. It is not a tourist attraction pretending to be a working shrine; it is a very active working shrine surrounded by shopping malls.

The ritual is simple. You buy a set of nine incense sticks, four candles and a small garland from the counter at the entrance for about $2, light them, and offer prayers at each of the Brahma's four faces in turn (representing kindness, mercy, sympathy and impartiality). Devotees whose wishes are granted return to commission a performance of classical Thai lakhon dance from a resident troupe of women in gold headdresses. There is almost always a performance going on, gong and xylophone drifting out into the traffic noise on Ratchadamri.

The shrine is right at the Chit Lom skywalk, sandwiched between CentralWorld, Gaysorn Village and the Grand Hyatt Erawan, so you can drop by any time you are shopping the Ratchaprasong district. Late evening is the atmospheric moment — the shrine is lit against the illuminated malls, and the crowds are thickest around 20:00. Photograph respectfully; the four faces do not like flash directly on them.

Hours & entry

Free every day, all hours

Daily 6:00-23:00 · Classical dance performances all day when devotees commission them

What to see

• The gilded four-faced Brahma — Central pavilion of the shrine, corner of Ratchadamri and Phloen Chit
• Classical dance troupe — Small stage on the northern side of the shrine platform
• Wall of gilded elephant offerings — Southern wall of the shrine, behind the Brahma pavilion

Tips from the ground

• Buy the offering set from the official counter inside the shrine, not from street sellers who charge triple.
• Cross via the skywalk from BTS Chit Lom to avoid the intersection traffic.
• Combine with the nearby Trimurti Shrine at CentralWorld — famous for love wishes, best on Thursday evenings.