The Erawan Shrine is a small, gilded shrine to the Hindu god Brahma on the corner of the Ratchaprasong intersection, surrounded by shopping malls, hotels and the BTS skywalk. Despite its size it is one of the most visited religious sites in Bangkok. People come throughout the day to pray, leave garlands and incense, and pay traditional dancers to perform when a wish has come true. A visit to the Erawan Shrine takes only a short time but shows a side of daily life in Bangkok that the big temples do not.
What the Erawan Shrine is
The shrine was built in the 1950s during the construction of the original Erawan Hotel, on the site now occupied by the Grand Hyatt Erawan. The story told locally is that the hotel project suffered a run of problems and that a shrine to Brahma, known in Thai as Phra Phrom, was set up to bring good fortune. Brahma is shown with four faces, looking in every direction, and worshippers usually pray at each side in turn.
Both Thai and foreign visitors, many from elsewhere in Asia, come here to ask for help with work, exams, health and love. If a wish is granted, the custom is to return and give thanks, sometimes by hiring the dancers in traditional costume who perform beside the shrine.
How to get to the Erawan Shrine by BTS
The nearest station is Chit Lom on the BTS Sukhumvit Line. Follow the elevated Ratchaprasong skywalk toward the intersection and take the stairs down near the Grand Hyatt Erawan and Erawan Bangkok mall. The shrine is on the corner of Ratchadamri and Phloen Chit roads, a walk of around 3 to 5 minutes.
Ratchadamri on the BTS Silom Line is also close, and the skywalk links much of this area, so you can reach Siam on foot without crossing busy roads at street level.
Entry, offerings and etiquette
The shrine is free to enter. Vendors at the gate sell sets of offerings such as incense, candles and flower garlands, and you can buy them if you wish to take part, but there is no obligation. A few points help visits go smoothly:
- Dress respectfully. Rules are less strict than at the Grand Palace, but very revealing clothing is out of place.
- Do not stand in front of people who are praying, and keep your voice down.
- Photos are generally fine, including of the dancers, but be discreet and avoid using flash in people's faces.
- Incense smoke can be heavy at busy times, which some visitors find uncomfortable.
Opening times are long, running from early morning into the evening. They are not published on a single official site, so if you plan a very early or late visit, check recent local information.
Best time to visit the Erawan Shrine
Morning is calmer and gives the best chance to watch quietly. The shrine is often busiest in the evening after work and on auspicious days, when the crowd and the smell of jasmine and incense give it a very different feel. Either way, 20 to 30 minutes is usually enough, which makes it an easy stop on a shopping day.
What to look for
- The four faces of Brahma: watch how worshippers move around the shrine to pray to each side.
- The dancers: performances are paid for by worshippers, so they happen through the day rather than at fixed times.
- The offerings: piles of marigold and jasmine garlands and small wooden elephants left in thanks.
Making an offering at the Erawan Shrine
If you want to take part, buy a set of offerings at the gate, light the incense and candles at the stands provided, and move clockwise around the shrine, offering a prayer and a few sticks of incense at each of Brahma's four faces. Garlands are placed on the racks around the image. There is no single correct way, and staff and other worshippers are used to first-time visitors, so simply follow what people around you are doing.
Nearby at Ratchaprasong
The Erawan Shrine sits in the middle of Bangkok's main shopping district, and several other shrines are close by:
- CentralWorld: one of the city's largest malls, with shrines to Trimurti and Ganesha on its front plaza.
- Gaysorn Village and Central Chidlom: high-end shopping along the skywalk.
- Siam: a 10 to 15 minute walk along the skywalk, with Siam Paragon and Siam Square.
Find more details on the Erawan Shrine page, or see what is near other stations on our Bangkok metro map.