Nemeth/Star Productions - Picture Gallery

The Bangkok City Pillar Shrine, known as “Lak Mueang,” is a significant religious and historical site located in the Phra Nakhon District of Bangkok, Thailand. It marks the center of Bangkok and is situated on Rattanakosin Island, near the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). The shrine was established by King Rama I in 1782 when he moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok. The shrine houses a city pillar, believed to house the city’s guardian spirit. The shrine’s primary function is to ensure the prosperity and stability of the city, and it is a place where people come to pay respects and seek blessings. The tradition of erecting city pillars dates back to ancient Thai cities, where such pillars were thought to hold spiritual significance and provide protection.