Bangkok City Pillar Shrine
The Bangkok City Pillar Shrine (ศาลหลักเมืองกรุงเทพมหานคร) is at 2 Lak Mueang Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200. The shrine’s own site says it was built with the founding of Rattanakosin, under the Brahmin custom of raising the city pillar on an auspicious site before a city was built. The Fine Arts Department registered it as a historic site on 21 May 1975. The establishment day is 21 April each year, with a Brahmin offering ceremony.
The two pages on the same site do not agree on the clock. The contact page says every day 06:30–18:00, and prints the word donation (บริจาค) beside the hours. The how-to page says 06:30–18:30 every day, and all night on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and Chinese New Year. Neither page prints a baht price. Telephones are 02-225-4403 and 085-485-2464. Email is service@bangkokcitypillarshrine.com. The site is https://bangkokcitypillarshrine.com/. No Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok address is printed on the pages used here.
The how-to page walks a visitor through the Buddha image hall, a replica of the city pillar, the shrine itself, and the shrine of five guardian spirits: Phra Suea Mueang, Phra Song Mueang, Phra Kanchaisi, Chao Chettakup, and Chao Ho Klong. It says Rama I’s pillar is the taller, lotus-topped one, and Rama IV’s is the plumper Met Song Man shape. It also says there are daily shows and traditional Thai dances for people fulfilling a vow. For parking, it says cars may use Sanam Luang, Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 18:00, and Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays from 06:00 to 18:00.
Photos: The City Pillar Shrine 2 (2019).jpg by PEAK99, CC BY-SA 4.0 (2019), the shrine from the square. City Pillar Shrine of Bangkok (1).jpg by กสิณธร ราชโอรส, CC BY-SA 3.0 (2014), the white prang and gilded door. Bangkok city pillar shrine 20240917.jpg by Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0 (2024), the spire from the side.