Rating: 3.6/5 (5 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08:30–16:30 (hours may vary on holidays)

 

City Pillar Shrine of Sakaeo stands beside Highway No. 33, about four kilometers east of downtown Sakaeo toward Watthana Nakhon, within the Kanchanaphisek Park precinct (Moo 3, Tha Kasem Subdistrict, Mueang Sakaeo). More than a landmark, it is the province’s spiritual center—an anchoring place locals visit to pay respect, seek blessings for safe journeys, and feel rooted in the shared story of their home.

 

Raised in 1996 as a symbol of loyalty and unity, the shrine houses the city pillar fashioned from Chaiyaphruek (Cassia fistula), the auspicious wood mandated by ancient royal tradition. The pillar follows canonical proportions—about 120 inches in girth at the base and 229 inches in height—enshrined together with a gilded talismanic “city horoscope” plate that was anointed on 12 September 1996. The formal ceremony to install the pillar took place shortly after, on 25 September 1996, witnessed by officials and townspeople from across the province.

 

The architecture follows a standard plan by Thailand’s Fine Arts Department: a grand central prang, 6.60 meters wide and 19.10 meters high, ringed by four smaller prang at the cardinal points and connected by walkways. The composition blends Thai crafting with Khmer-inspired verticality—the tapering spire, lotus-bud tiers, serpent balustrades, and floral stuccowork. In the late afternoon, amber light washes the stucco and makes the spire glow; incense drifts, footsteps soften, and the space holds a hush that feels both civic and sacred.

 

Though young by historical standards, the shrine carries the classic meaning of a city pillar in Thai culture: it is the “heart of the city,” a ritualized axis that binds place and people. When a community is founded or elevated in status, creating a city pillar shrine is an essential rite performed to ensure stability and prosperity. The rite includes selecting an unblemished Chaiyaphruek trunk, consecration by monks and Brahmin priests, and burying auspicious metals beneath the base—echoes of elemental balance and protection for the city.

 

Over the years, the shrine has become a living stage for civic and spiritual life. Each September, commemorative offerings and merit-making mark the anniversary of the pillar’s installation—ceremonies often include chanting, traditional dances, and communal gatherings. On national days and royal celebrations, locals come to light candles and present garlands. Travelers, meanwhile, stop to bow, breathe, and reset before continuing to border markets at Aranyaprathet, the sandstone sanctuary of Sdok Kok Thom, or the forests and waterfalls of Pang Sida National Park.

 

Practical notes help the visit feel effortless. Because the shrine fronts a major road, light traffic noise is normal; mornings and late afternoons are calmest and offer the most flattering light for photography. The park precinct has open space to stroll, and casual vendors sometimes sell flowers, incense, and garlands near the entrance. Dress modestly (covered shoulders, knee-length bottoms) as a sign of respect. Photography is welcomed—just keep a courteous distance from worshippers.

 

Getting There: From downtown Sakaeo, drive east on Highway No. 33 toward Watthana Nakhon for roughly 4 kilometers. Watch for the sign to “Kanchanaphisek Park” on the left and turn in; the shrine sits prominently within the precinct. By public transport, take a local minivan or songthaew on the Sakaeo–Watthana Nakhon route and alight at the park entrance, then walk a few minutes to the shrine. Parking is available along the park frontage.

 

As a compact cultural stop, the City Pillar Shrine can anchor a half-day in town: begin here for blessing and orientation, then fan out—coffee near the city center, a heritage fix at Sdok Kok Thom’s laterite towers (about an hour by car), or a nature detour into Pang Sida’s evergreen forest. However you slice it, starting at the pillar shrine tunes you into Sakaeo’s cadence: civic pride, quiet faith, and a soft resilience found in border provinces where cultures and trade routes meet.

 

 

A: Inside Kanchanaphisek Park (Moo 3), Tha Kasem Subdistrict, about 4 km east of downtown Sakaeo along Highway No. 33 toward Watthana Nakhon.

 

A: Generally 08:30–16:30 daily; local practice varies slightly on holidays. Early morning and late afternoon are calm with softer light.

 

A: No. Visitors can enter to worship and look around free of charge.

 

A: It follows ancient tradition using Chaiyaphruek wood with canonical proportions, enshrined alongside an anointed “city horoscope” plate in 1996.

 

A: Yes—photography is welcome. Please be respectful of worshippers and avoid obstructing rituals.

 

A: Take a local minivan or songthaew on the Sakaeo–Watthana Nakhon route, get off at the Kanchanaphisek Park entrance, then walk a few minutes to the shrine.