The Erawan Shrine was built in 1956 as part of the government-owned Erawan Hotel to eliminate the bad karma believed caused by laying the foundations on the wrong date. The hotel’s construction was delayed by a series of mishaps, including cost overruns, injuries to laborers, and the loss of a shipload of Italian marble intended for the building. Furthermore, the Ratchaprasong intersection had once been used to put criminals on public display. An astrologer advised building the shrine to counter the negative influences. The Brahma statue was designed and built by the Department of Fine Arts and enshrined on 9 November 1956.
The shrine is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visitors can offer prayers, make offerings, and buy souvenirs from the stalls that are set up around the shrine.
There are a few things to keep in mind when visiting Erawan Shrine:
- Be respectful of the shrine and its surroundings.
- Dress modestly.
- Avoid making loud noises or taking photographs during prayer time.
- Do not climb on the statue or the shrine.
Erawan Shrine is a popular tourist destination and is a great place to experience Thai culture and religion. It is a place where people can come to pray for good luck and fortune, and to simply enjoy the beauty of the shrine and its surroundings.
