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The Giant Swing at Wat Suthat

Wat Suthat Thep Wararam - วัดสุทัศนเทพวราราม  One of Bangkok's most iconic landmarks is the Giant Swing, a towering red monument looking something like a Japanese torii gate , but serving a very different purpose. Long ago used in a royal ceremony by the kingdom's secretive royal court Brahmins, the swing today serves as a symbol of the City of Angels. Wat Suthat Temple, the home of the Giant Swing, is a first-class temple of the royal grade, of which there are only ten in all of Bangkok. Wat Suthat Temple and the Giant Swing in Bangkok's old town Surrounding the temple sanctuary are twenty-eight miniature Chinese-style pagodas carved from stone. According to the Buddhist scriptures, there have been twenty-seven Buddhas before the enlightenment of Prince Siddhārtha Gautama. Each of these twenty-eight pagodas therefore correspond to one of the ancient enlightened lives of the Buddha. 28 Chinese pagodas surrounding Wat Suthat Temple, corresponding to the lives
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Ganesha Shrine at Central World, Bangkok - The Lord of Success

Ganesha -The Lord of Success at Central World

Ganesha Shrine at Central World in downtown Bangkok
Ganesha Shrine at Central World in downtown Bangkok

The Shrine to Ganesha, the Hindu Lord of Success is located in a place of prominence outside of Central World shopping mall (formerly the World Trade Center) in Bangkok, Thailand. The easily recognizable elephant-headed deity is the god of success and learning, and is one of the most popular deities from the Indian pantheon in Thailand.

Although Thailand is officially a Theravada Buddhist country, the Hindu gods, especially Ganesha, are highly revered throughout the kingdom.

Ganesha

The god Ganesha (also known as Ganesh) is the remover of obstacles, the lord of business and success, patron of arts and science, and the god of intellect, learning, and wisdom. As patron of learning and letters, Ganesha is especially popular with students and teachers. The image of Ganesh appears on the seal of the Thai Ministry of Fine Arts.

a man praying to the god Ganesha in Bangkok
a man praying to the god Ganesha in Bangkok

Ganesha Shrine

The Ganesha Shrine can be found outside of Central World, formerly the World Trade Center, in downtown Bangkok. As the Lord of Success and patron of Business, it seems appropriate to find such a magnificent shrine to Ganesha outside of the world's 11th largest shopping mall (as of 2018).

The Ganesha shrine is always busy, a testament to how popular the elephant-headed Hindu deity is within Thai culture.

the Ganesha Shrine and buildings of downtown Bangkok
the Ganesha Shrine and buildings of downtown Bangkok

When to visit the Ganesha Shrine

  • The Ganesha Shrine is public, and open to visitors 24h.

How to pray at the Ganesha Shrine

  • As Ganesha is the patron of letters, learning, science, intellect, and wisdom, the Ganesha Shrine at Central World in Bangkok is popular with students from the nearby Chulalongkorn University, as well as other universities and schools across the city.
  • Students, teachers, diplomats, and businessmen make offerings at the Ganesha Shrine to pray for success.
  • Leave offerings of fruit, traditional Thai desserts, flowers, and nine sticks of incense (nine is a lucky number in Thai culture).
  • DO NOT make offerings of meat of any kind.
how to pray and make offerings at the Ganesha Shrine at Central World in Bangkok
how to pray and make offerings at the Ganesha Shrine at Central World in Bangkok

Eat, Pray, Shop - Eight Hindu Shrines at the Ratchaprasong Intersection in downtown Bangkok

The Ganesha Shrine is just one of the eight Hindu shrines in the Ratchaprasong Intersection. The Thai Tourist Authority has instituted an initiative called "Eat, Pray, Shop" to encourage people to take a short pilgrimage to each of the shrines and discover the sacred hidden secret of downtown Bangkok.

Where is the Ganesha Shrine?

  • The Ganesha Shrine is located in the plaza outside of Central World shopping mall, between BTS stations Siam and Chitlom. It is easily reached via skywalk from Chitlom BTS.
  • 2978 ถนน พระราม 1 Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330
  • https://goo.gl/maps/Ga6GDNDKHm62
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