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City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang, Bangkok
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City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang, Bangkok

Bangkok's City Pillar - Bangkok
Bangkok's City Pillar
by volopolo
City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang tips and photos posted by real travelers and Bangkok locals.

Thanon Sanam Chai
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• 9 Reviews

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City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang: City Pillar Shrine
  • Tip Rating:
  • jrs1234
  • Updated By jrs1234 on September 29, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by jrs1234
  • City Pillar Shrine, Bangkok - Bangkok
    City Pillar Shrine,
    Bangkok
    by jrs1234
    The City Pillar Shrine (Lak Muang) is just at the north-east corner of the Grand Palace, and while it may not look like that much as you approach from the outside, it's definitely worth a visit.

    There's a lot more to see once you get through the gate - as well as the lovely shrine itself (pictured) which actually contains 2 wooden pillars, the surrounding garden is beautifully manicured. You'll get some nice glimpses of the Grand Palace, and the place has a steady stream of people making offerings. You might also see some Thai dancing - some of the worshippers pay for classical Thai dances to be performed here.

    There's a good page on this shrine at the excellent Thailand Guidebook website.

    It's open daily from 5.30am (before sunrise!) until 7.30pm. There's no entry fee, but donations are of course welcome.

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  • Directions: Just outside of the walls of the Grand Palace, on its north-eastern corner.
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    City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang: 'visiting 9 temples (Wat): Sanlakmuang
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  • iyukase
  • By iyukase on August 9, 2005
  • Bangkok Page by iyukase
  • The city pillar is placed inside - Bangkok
    The city pillar is placed
    inside
    by iyukase
    for "get rid of bad luck, gain more good luck"

    In the ancient time, when the King established Bangkok as the capital city, a city pillar was placed in the heart of the city. The pillar contains the city horoscope and enshrines the guardian angle.

    My friend recommended to try "Seumsi" (shake the bamboo cylinder contained fortune sticks).....your fortune will reveal here!!!

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  • Directions: if facing Wat Pra Kaeo and turn back to Sanam Laung, this place will be located on your left side, across the street
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    City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang: City Pillar Shrine
  • Tip Rating:
  • Joenes
  • Updated By Joenes on January 3, 2005
  • Bangkok Page by Joenes
  • City Pillar Shrine - Bangkok
    City Pillar Shrine
    by Joenes
    Very busy with a lot of Thai praying here during the day.
    Not far from The Grand Palace.

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  • Directions: This shrine is at the south east corner of Phramane Ground or Sanam at the corner opposite to Wat Prakaeo, and adjacent to the Ministry of Defense
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    City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang: Bangkok's City Pillar
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  • volopolo
  • Updated By volopolo on August 16, 2009
  • Bangkok Page by volopolo
  • Bangkok's City Pillar - Bangkok
    Bangkok's City Pillar
    by volopolo, 4 more photos
    Bangkok's City Pillar

    Also known as Lak Mueang, build in 1782, located on the heart of Bangkok, opposite the Grand Palace and The Ministry of Defence.. Bangkok's City Pillar consists of a square building with openings on all four sides.


    Information
    Name: City Pillar
    Attraction Type: Monument
    Close to: opposite the Grand Palace
    City: Bangkok
    Pictures in the web: Attractions in Bangkok
    Last Visit: September 2008


    My Photos
    First Photo: The main Building
    Second Photo: Outside Bangkok's City Pillar
    Third Photo: Outside Bangkok's City Pillar
    Forth Photo: The garden in Bangkok's City Pillar
    Fifth Photo: Bangkok's City Pillar

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  • Phone: (02) 2229876
  • Directions: Near the Grand Palace.
  • Website: www.thailandbethere.com
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    City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang: Lak Muang - City Pillar Shrine
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  • Bangkokjoe
  • Updated By Bangkokjoe on March 13, 2006
  • Bangkok Page by Bangkokjoe
  • A Nifty Roof Over Some Nifty Pillars - Bangkok
    A Nifty Roof Over Some Nifty
    Pillars
    by Bangkokjoe, 2 more photos
    There's two city pillars in the Lak Muang Shrine. Four if you count the ones outdoors. (Obviously Thailand being ahead of the times deciding to make a back up.) You are asking "What is a City Pillar?" And yes, it is a pillar. But a very old pillar, and not the sort of pillar that I was expecting, an old tree trunk sort of pillar, a very ancient and used pillar in some archeaologist dug up building. Nope; original Thai city pillars were the width of two fists of the important King who set up that particular city. The ones in Bangkok, however, are big and chunky and made of heartwood and must be more than two fists / wrists easy. Essentially, they are blessed columns of wood. Very, very, blessed. And golden.

    Of course, they've put a temple / shrine buildings around them now and a superb decorated roof / pavillion. You can touch a replica pillar outside and get your dose of good luck, as so many of the Thais enjoyed doing. I think the coloured ribbons (each signifying a day) are the domain of monks to change.

    So think about that when you've got you hands on the mini replicas. Way back in 1782, King Rama I, after he moved to Bangkok from over the river at Thonburi, would have had his hands on the small ones too; on the morning of Sunday, April 21, 1782 at just after 6:45am. Because that was the time the dedication ceremony took place. And in twenty seven years time that will be 250 years ago. Woohoo. (A great excuse to return if you need one.)

    And all the distances on road maps to and from Bangkok are calculated from this very sacred spot. (So if you ever see a sign post with a distance to BKK on it, you will know exactly where the other end of the tape measure was held tight. They must do the measuring at night as I've never seen them do it in the daytime.)

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  • Directions: Sanam Chai Road (between Chareon Krung Road and Bam Rung Muang Road) on the north east side of the Grand Palace.
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    City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang: City Pillar Shrine
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  • balhannah
  • By balhannah on June 29, 2009
  • Bangkok Page by balhannah
  • City Pillar Shrine - Bangkok
    City Pillar Shrine
    by balhannah
    This Shrine is only a short walk from the Grand Palace and is worth the visit. It was built in 1782, during the reign of King Rama 1, and was the 1st building built in the Capital City, being built just ahead of the Grand Palace. There are actually two pillars in the Shrine, one with the old Birth Certificate, and one with the new Birth Certificate. The Shrine Building was rebuilt in 1982, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Bangkok City. Thai people believe that visiting here will bring Good Luck and rid them of the Bad Luck. It is a busy site, and Admission is FREE. It is open from 5.30 - 7.30pm

  • Phone: (02) 2229876
  • Directions: Near the Grand Palace.
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    City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang: Lak Meuang
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  • Jim_Eliason
  • Updated By Jim_Eliason on April 5, 2003
  • Bangkok Page by Jim_Eliason
  • Lak Meuang - Bangkok
    Lak Meuang
    by Jim_Eliason
    The City Pillar Shrine was constructed to commerate the naming of Bangkok as capital

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  • Directions: Across from the Royal park north of the Grand Palace
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    City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang: City shrine or Lak Muang
    pattayaraj
  • Updated By pattayaraj on December 12, 2005
  • Bangkok Page by pattayaraj
  • shrine - Bangkok
    shrine
    by pattayaraj,
    3 more photos
    Thai believed that the city pillar symbolizes the establishment of a new community. The city pillar of Bangkok was first erected in 1782. After that in the reign of King Rama IV was erected a new one.So you can see 2pillars in this shrine.

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  • Directions: Near the former Ministry of Defense,opposite Sa Nam Luang.
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    City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang: City Pillar Shrine
    Willettsworld
  • By Willettsworld on October 25, 2009
  • Bangkok Page by Willettsworld
  • City Pillar Shrine - Lak Muang - Bangkok
    by Willettsworld,
    4 more photos
    A Lak Mueang or City pillar is found in most cities of Thailand. Usually housed in a shrine which is also believed to house the city spirit deity, Chao Pho Lak Meuang, it is held in high esteem by the citizens of the town. It was probably King Rama I, who erected the first city pillar on April 21, 1782, when he moved his capital from Thonburi to Bangkok. This shrine can be found across the road from the Grand Palace and features two pillars - the longer pillar is the original of Rama I, the shorter was added by King Mongkut (Rama IV).

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  • Phone: (02) 2229876
  • Directions: Near the Grand Palace.
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
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