★Local·Foundation shrine
City Pillar Shrine
ศาลหลักเมือง
Where Bangkok officially began in 1782 — the city's spiritual foundation post, wrapped in silk and prayers, opposite the Grand Palace.
Bangkok's founding pillar, planted by Rama I in 1782 — the city's spiritual address zero, opposite the Grand Palace wall. Locals commission dancers to thank the spirits.
Ahoerstemeier CC BY-SA 3.0 · Iudexvivorum CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized · tap to enlarge
Visiting
- Open
- daily (not officially confirmed)
- Entry
- FreeNo ticket; flowers, incense and oil offerings are sold on site and donations are optional (reported)Reported by visitors and guides, not by the venue.
- Dress
- Modest (general temple etiquette: shoulders and knees covered)
- Allow
- 20–30 min
No official opening hours published — check on the day.
Checked 10 Oct 2026 against openstreetmap.org, commons.wikimedia.org, wikidata.org, tourismthailand.org. Things change: closures for royal ceremonies and holidays are common.
Visiting a temple
- Shoulders and knees covered, for everyone. Sarongs are usually available at the gate, sometimes for a small deposit.
- Shoes come off before you step into an ordination hall — watch what everyone else is doing at the threshold.
- Most compounds open early, around 08:00, and close by 17:00–18:00; the major ones charge foreign visitors a small entry fee.
- Early morning is cooler, quieter and far better light than midday.
Check current entry fee and today's closing time when you arrive — we have no verified official site for this one.
Getting there
- Tha Chang·Chao Phraya Express Boat~8 min walk
- Tha Chang·Cross-river ferries~8 min walk
- Tha Chang·Chao Phraya Tourist Boat~8 min walk
- Maharaj pier·Chao Phraya Tourist Boat~9 min walk
Typical times, not a timetable · rail, boat and BRT routing runs right in the atlas.
While you're here
- Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles·Textile museum~4 min walk
- Grand Palace·Palace~6 min walk
- Sanam Luang·Royal field~5 min walk
- Wat Mahathat·Meditation temple~6 min walk
The neighbourhood
City Pillar Shrine sits in Old Town · Rattanakosin — Where Bangkok began.