Erawan Shrine: the four-faced Brahma of Ratchaprasong

Updated on October 1, 2026

The Erawan Shrine (San Phra Phrom, or Thao Maha Phrom), on the Ratchaprasong intersection on Ratchadamri Road, is a small open-air shrine dedicated to Brahma, the Hindu god depicted with four faces. Squeezed between the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel, the shopping malls and the BTS viaduct, it draws Thais and visitors from all over Asia from morning to night, who come to pray, leave offerings or thank the god for a wish granted. Entry is free and the shrine is open every day from 06:00 to 22:00. A visit usually takes about a quarter of an hour, often combined with [shopping in Siam](/fr/attractions/centres-commerciaux-siam-bangkok).

Highlights

The statue of Brahma

Seated beneath a gilded pavilion inlaid with glass, the god shows four faces turned towards the four cardinal points. Worshippers walk around the shrine and pray in front of each face. The current statue was installed in May 2006, after the original was destroyed; it incorporates fragments of the original.

The offerings

Garlands of jasmine and marigold, carved wooden elephants, fruit: offerings are sold on site. Since March 2020, lighting incense and candles inside the enclosure has been banned to reduce smoke; worshippers present them unlit.

The votive dancers

Beside the shrine, a troupe of dancers in traditional costume, accompanied by musicians, performs dances commissioned by worshippers to give thanks for a wish granted. The price depends on the number of dancers and is paid at a counter at the shrine, against a receipt. The clearest overall view is from the pedestrian walkway above the intersection.

The history of the shrine

The shrine was built in 1956 during the construction of the Erawan Hotel: the project was plagued by accidents and delays, and an astrologer advised raising a shrine to Brahma. The statue, designed by the Fine Arts Department, was consecrated on 9 November 1956. The hotel has since been replaced by the Grand Hyatt Erawan, but the shrine has stayed where it was.

The 2006 vandalism and the 2015 bombing

On 21 March 2006, a man smashed the statue with a hammer before being killed by bystanders; a new statue was installed two months later. On 17 August 2015, a bomb exploded near the shrine, killing 20 people and injuring more than 120; the statue, slightly damaged, was restored within days.

The shrine in the evening

After dark, the illuminated shrine stands out against the facades of the neighbouring malls, and the crowds keep coming until closing time, especially after office hours.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Modest dress is appreciated (shoulders covered), even though it is not checked as strictly as in the major temples. Be discreet with your camera during prayers and dances, and do not stand in front of kneeling worshippers. The shrine is easy to fit in on your way out of the neighbouring malls or on foot towards [Lumphini Park](/fr/attractions/parc-lumphini), about 15 minutes south along Ratchadamri Road.

How to get there

Ratchaprasong intersection, Ratchadamri Road, Lumphini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, at the corner of the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel and opposite CentralWorld. BTS Chit Lom (Sukhumvit line), exit 8, then the Skywalk to the intersection; on foot from BTS Siam station along the same walkway, in about ten minutes.