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Operating day: Daily

Operating time: 24 Hours

 

Prachuap Khiri Khan City Pillar Shrine Attractions Prachuap Prachuap Khiri Khan, Muang Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachuap Khiri Khan. Located on Salachiap Road, opposite the Provincial Hall, the City Pillar Shrine of Prachuap Khiri Khan stands as a spiritual and historical landmark for the people of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Showcasing the beauty of Lopburi-style architecture, this shrine is not only a historic symbol but also one of the largest and most beautiful city pillar shrines in Thailand.

 

The shrine’s architecture reflects the distinctive style of Lopburi art. Designed as a four-gabled pavilion crowned with a nine-tiered prang (pagoda) in traditional Siamese-Lopburi style, the top tier houses a revered Buddha image, while the other tiers enshrine important deities from Brahman-Hindu beliefs, such as Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The pediment displays the emblem of Rahu swallowing the moon, with other deities carved intricately, all enclosed within a double-layered glass wall, enhancing the shrine’s grandeur and sacred ambiance.

 

The city pillar itself, named "Chatu Chok," is crafted from sacred ironwood and carved with four heads and four faces, in the distinctive Srivijaya art style. It is coated in lacquer and adorned with gold leaf and precious gemstones, making it strikingly beautiful. The four-faced design symbolizes compassion, wisdom, and prosperity in all directions, offering blessings to those who come to pay respect.

 

Construction of the City Pillar Shrine began during the governorship of Lt. Col. Amnuay Thayanan, who presided over the ceremonial foundation stone laying on March 4, 1993, at precisely 9:59 a.m. The ceremony was a significant event for Prachuap Khiri Khan, bringing together various community leaders and residents. On August 20, 1994, His Majesty the King graciously appointed His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Thailand to preside over the shrine’s inauguration ceremony, further elevating the shrine’s importance and symbolizing the people’s respect and loyalty to the monarchy.

 

The City Pillar Shrine of Prachuap Khiri Khan is not only a revered place believed to offer protection and blessings to locals but also an architectural masterpiece reflecting the beauty of Lopburi-style art. Visiting this shrine provides a sense of peace and inspiration, as it represents both the cultural heritage and historical significance of Prachuap Khiri Khan.