Eight other shrines are located in the area as well: Phra Mae Laksami (Lakshmi), Phra Mae Uma (Uma), Phra Trimurati (Trimurti), Phra Khanet (Ganesh), Phra In (Indra), Phra Narai Song Suban (Narayana riding on garuda), Phra Narai Song Nak (Narayana riding on naga), and Thao Chatulokkaban (Four Heavenly Kings).[1][2][3] For Phra Trimurati has long been mistaken for Trimurti, but in 2017 it was revealed that in fact, it is Sadasiva or five-faced Shiva. Sadasiva is worshiped as the god of love. Therefore, there are often many teenagers who come to pray for love, especially on Thursday nights at 9:30 p.m. or Valentine's Day. From the presence of nine Hindu shrines, hence, Ratchaprasong is known among Thai people as "Intersection of Gods".[4][5]
Festive season lights – Every year around Christmas and New Year, Ratchaprasong is heavily decorated with lights. The decorations were started by The Peninsular Plaza[6] (closed since 1 March 2022[7]) and The Regent hotel (now Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok), and later expanded to Sogo (now a part of Amarin Plaza), CentralWorld, Central Chidlom, and Gaysorn. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration also provides lights along the BTS Skytrain pillars. During the period, it is the brightest lit area of Bangkok.
Foreign Correspondents' Club Thailand – Located in the penthouse of the Maneeya Building, the FCCT hosts guest speakers, talks on current events, movie screenings, and art and photographic exhibitions.
Shopping
Central Chidlom – Flagship department store of Thailand's biggest retail chain.
CentralWorld – Southeast Asia's second largest shopping mall.
Gaysorn – An upscale shopping centre devoted to designer-label luxury goods.
Amarin Plaza – Formerly the Sogo Department Store, has shops devoted to Thai traditional arts and handicrafts as well as restaurants and other retailers.
Big C Ratchadamri – Has shops, fitness centre, and 10-screen EGV Metropolis cineplex.
BMTA city buses – more than 20 bus lines pass through the area.
Incidents
In 2010, the Ratchaprasong intersection was one of the main sites of the 2010 Thai political protests. From March to May the Red Shirt protesters occupied a large area around Ratchaprasong intersection in civil disobedience aimed at reinstalling the government under Thaksin Shinawatra. The stage area and the surrounding tent city became known as "the red city". The major shopping malls and five star hotels in the vicinity were forced to close during the occupation. Most residents of the area moved out for security concerns and because of the inconvenience.[8]
After weeks of failed negotiations, the Thai army moved in to clear the Ratchaprasong intersection on 19 May 2010. The violent government crackdown against the "Red Shirt" protesters resulted in the deaths of about 90 civilians and soldiers. Buildings in the area were set on fire as the military moved into the intersection area; this resulted in the partial destruction of Bangkok's largest shopping mall, the CentralWorld complex.[9] Some Red Shirt protesters were accused of setting the fire and tried for arson but were acquitted.[10] As of June 2012, reconstruction at the Ratchaprasong intersection is complete.
