Chanthaburi City Pillar Shrine

Chanthaburi City Pillar Shrine is located in front of Taksin Camp, on Tha Luang Road, in Mueang District, Chanthaburi Province. There is still no evidence on when the shrine was built or who built the shrine. However, it is assumed that King Taksin had it built when he came to Chanthaburi Province, in order to gather his people and provisions before leading the army to restore Krung Si Ayutthaya. According to the book of King Taksin’s biography, King Taksin gained Chanthaburi Province on Sunday the 3rd day of the waning moon of the 7th lunar month in the year of the pig, or 1129 Thai minor era, which is June 14, 1767 B.E. If this assumption is true, it can be concluded that Chanthaburi City Pillar Shrine might be constructed around 1767 B.E. Nevertheless, the city pillar shrine at present is not the same shrine with the one that King Taksin had built about 250 years ago. The old one was probably made of laterite, which still has traces in a dilapidated condition. Bodhi trees and Siamese rough bushes (Koi trees) have grown and covered the shrine, making it look different from the past. As for the city pillar shrine these days, it was an ordinary-shaped wooden shrine situated between two Koi trees. Later, in 1981, Chanthaburi Province had a shrine built, in order to bury the city pillar inside and have a new statue of the guardian spirit molded. The shrine is a mortared house in Thai style with four gable ends. It has Chofa (ornamental roof points shaped like the head of the Garuda), Bai Raka (toothlike ridges on the sloping edges of a gable), and the pagoda on the top. Besides, nearby the city pillar shrine, there is a small spectacular shrine in Chinese style which makes the city pillar shrine become more and more magnificent. However, if you have a chance to visit Chanthaburi Province, do not forget to pay homage to Chanthaburi sacred objects at the city pillar shrine. Direction: From Sukhumvit Road, turn right at Raiya Intersection to Rak Sak Chamul Road. After around 6 kilometer drive, there will be a junction. Turn left to Tha Luang Road for around 600 meters and the city pillar shrine is there. Opening time and date: Everyday from 5.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission fee: None For more information, contact 0 3931 3452.