Chidlom - Ploenchit Attractions

Straddling both Wireless Road and Sarasin Road, the tranquility of Lumpini Park is recommended for those wanting a natural tonic to counteract the sometimes overwhelming chorus of traffic and commerce that is the city's soundtrack. The best time to come is in the morning or at dusk - when the sticky heat of day is absent.

Tourist attractions are thin on the ground in Ploenchit and the roads that traverse it. Still, those that are here - namely shrines - draw steady streams of locals from dawn till dusk, and are well worth seeing if you want to witness the city's Buddhist faithful receiving spiritual succor in the midst of dynamic, free-wheeling commerce. 

The most famous is the Erawan Shrine, on the corner of Ploenchit and Ratchadamri roads (scroll down for a more detailed overview). Located in front of CentralWorld, the Elephant and Trimurti (or Lovers) Shrines are also very popular. Venture to the first if you're seeking artistic success and accomplishment, the latter if looking to find romance and, ultimately, a soulmate.

Couples wanting to conceive, or those who fancy witnessing the bizarre sight of hundreds of carved phalluses - from small wooden carvings to big stone sculptures - head for the Goddess Tubtim Shrine, in the grounds of the Swissotel Nai Lert Hotel on Wireless Road. Otherwise, this area really is the perfect spot to flex your credit card to its limits, to enjoy fine dining experiences and typical mall activities like cinema or bowling.