There's a cool promotion by the Tourist Authority of Thailand called "Eat, Pray, Shop" that encourages people to visit eight Hindu shrines, some big and famous, and others small and hidden, scattered around Bangkok's downtown shopping area. Last weekend, we went on a walk around Chitlom and Siam, between the malls and high-rise office buildings, looking for all eight!
1. Indra Shrine
The first shrine we visited was the Indra Shrine, just outside Amarin Plaza. It's a big one, and I've seen it before, but always walked past it up on the sky bridge without really paying much attention to it. Up close, it's really cool!Indra is the Hindu god of thunder.
2. Erawan Shrine
Next up was the Erawan Shrine, where I went on my very first weekend in Bangkok. The spirit house at the Grand Hyatt Erawan is dedicated to the Hindu god of creation, Brahma. It's a lively, vibrant, colorful place.
3. Narayana Shrine
Third was the Narayana Shrine, dedicated to Vishnu. The Narayana Shrine is part of a fountain in front of the Hotel Intercontinental. It's just across the road from the other two.
4. Lakshmi Shrine
The first three shrines were easy to find, but the next two were a bit more difficult! The Lakshmi Shrine, dedicated to the goddess of wealth and fortune. It's way up on the 4th floor rooftop gardens at Gaysorn Plaza, a shopping mall just next to the Hotel Intercontinental. We had a little trouble finding it! We had to ask for directions from the information desk at the mall, then take the elevator up to the rooftop.
5. Jatulokbal Shrine
Also on that rooftop, but on another corner, is the Jatulokbal Shrine, dedicated to four different gods: one representing each of the cardinal directions. As far as I know, this shrine is quite unique!
6. Umathevi Shrine
Back down on the street, we turned a corner and walked towards Big C Supercenter, where the Umathevi Shrine is located. Umathevi is the goddess of compassion.
7. Trimurti Shrine
Across the street from the Umathevi Shrine, we found the final two. The Trimurti Shrine is dedicated to the three great gods of Hinduism: Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. In Bangkok, Trimurti is known as the "god of love". People visit and offer flowers to wish for love and long-lasting relationships.
8. Ganesh Shrine
And finally, just next to the Trimurti Shrine, was the Ganesh Shrine. Ganesh is the elephant-headed god of success. It was fun to spend an afternoon exploring Bangkok, especially a part that I always pass through without really paying attention.
https://lastbaht.com/blog/eat-pray-shop-bangkok
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