City Pillar

The city pillar shrine building.

The city pillar.

 
Bangkok's city pillar lies off the northeast corner of the Grand Palace. The wooden stake was driven into the ground at 6:45 in the morning on the 21^st of April 1782, a time determined by court astrologers to be the most auspicious. All Thai cities have a city pillar, which acts as a sort of spirit house for the city's guardian spirits. Distances from Bangkok are measured from the city pillar.

The pillar is protected by a small ornate pavilion. No matter what day or time you come here, you will see people praying to the spirits, especially families hoping for children.

See our Ratanakosin map for more location information.