Shrine sights in Thailand
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A
Shrine of the Serene Light
A handful of Chinese temples inject some added colour into the area but the Shrine of the Serene Light, tucked away at the end of a 50m alley near the Bangkok Bank of Commerce on Th Phang-Nga, is a cut above the rest. You'll see Taoist etchings on the walls, the vaulted ceiling stained from incense plumes, and the altar is always alive with fresh flowers and burning candles. The shrine is said to have been built by a local family in the mid-1880s.
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B
Lingam Shrine (Saan Jao Mae Thap Thim)
Every village-neighbourhood has a local shrine, either a sacred banyan tree tied up with coloured scarves or a spirit house. But it isn’t every day you see a phallus garden like this lingam shrine, tucked back behind the staff quarters of the Nai Lert Park Hotel. Clusters of carved stone and wooden shafts surround a spirit house and shrine built by millionaire businessman Nai Loet to honour Jao Mae Thap Thim, a female deity thought to reside in the old banyan tree on the site. Someone who made an offering shortly after the shrine was built had a baby, and the shrine has received a steady stream of worshippers –mostly young women seeking fertility – ever since. If facing t…
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C
Ratchaprasong Intersection Shrines
A crowd in this part of town usually means a bargain market is nearby. But here the continuous activity revolves around six Hindu shrines credited with making this commercial corridor a success. It’s a fascinating place to come and just watch the way modern Thais have pragmatically adapted their beliefs – and their hopes – to the perceived reality that success breeds success, especially with the deities on your side. For details about all six shrines, download the excellent ‘Deities@Ratchaprasong’ guide from www.heartofbangkok.com.
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D
Wat Saket
Its a worthy summit where the temple’s Golden Mount (Phu Khao Thong) is visible from Th Ratchadamnoen and plays a good game of optical illusion, appearing closer than its real location. Serpentine steps wind through an artificial hill shaded by gnarled trees, some of which are signed in English, and past graves and pictures of wealthy benefactors. At the peak, you’ll find a breezy 360-degree view of Bangkok’s most photogenic side.
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E
San Jao Sien Khong
Opposite the River View Guesthouse, San Jao Sien Khong is one of the city’s oldest Chinese shrines, and is guarded by a playful rooftop terracotta dragon. A former owner of the shrine made his fortune collecting taxes on bird-nest delicacies.
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San Lak Meuang
Surin's gorgeous new city pillar shrine, just west of Th Thansarn, is a Khmer-style prang fronted by a copy of Phanom Rung's famous Narai Bandhomsindhu lintel.
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One Pillar Pagoda
This replica of Hanoi's iconic temple was built by Khon Kaen's sizeable Vietnamese community. It's a good sunset-watching spot.
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Mahesak Shrine
This modern Khmer-style prang is dedicated to the Hindu god Indra. It's almost spooky at night.
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