Advertisement

Bangkok bombing site popular for tourists, locals

The Erawan Shrine, the site of a bombing in Bangkok which killed at least 19 people, is one of the most famous shrines in the city.

The colourful Hindu shrine, a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, was built by the Thai government in 1956 as part of the government’s Erawan Hotel.

It was designed to eliminate bad karma caused by the laying of hotel foundations on the wrong date.

Bomb explodes at Bangkok tourist spot
‘A deafening bang. Screams. All I see is fire’
Jimmy Barnes and family escape Thailand tragedy

The shrine, in the city’s central business district, features a gilded statue of the god Brahma and is often the site of rituals and dances.

The statue is also known as the Four-Faced Buddha, despite the statue depicting a Hindi god with no connections to Buddhism.

It is not yet clear to what extent the bombing has damaged the statue.

Previous to the August 17 blast, the statue had also come under attack in March 2006 by a lone man who smashed the statue with a hammer.

The man was beaten to death by bystanders and the statue was replaced with a plaster statue featuring pieces of the old statue in May that year.

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.