Silom Attractions

Christ Church

After an influx of protestant missionaries in the early to mid 19th Century, King Rama IV granted land for a church to be built to serve them in Charoenkrung Road. However, it wasn't long until the English Church (as it was then known due its mainly English congregation) was overstretched. In 1904 King Rama V granted permission for a bigger and more centrally located church to be built.

The result was this lovely white Anglican Church on Convent Road, built in simple gothic-meets-colonial style. Today it serves a congregation of around 500, lending spiritual shelter from Sathorn Road's teeming traffic. The interior is painted white and contains stained glass windows, one of which depicts Christ's crucifixion. It also contains Thailand's only pipe organ. Services and sermons are given in both Thai and English.

Snake Farm

Set up to produce anti-venom serom for snake-bite victims nationwide, the Snake farm is the place to head in town for poisonous snakes, from Cobras, Malayan Pit Vipers, King Cobras, Banded Kraits, to Russell Vipers. All are 'milked' (their venom extracted). Lots of information and close-up encounters available. Best to go half an hour before showtime as there's a side show which explains about history of the snake farm and its function. Fomerly the Pasteur Institute.

Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple

This Hindu temple dedicated to the Goddess Mariamman was built by Tamil immigrants in the 1860s. Renowned for her power to protect against disease and death, it remains a popular place of worship for Silom's long-established Indian community. Its riotous blend of rich colours and ornate decoration makes for an unmistakable and rather unexpected sight in the heart of Silom.

The tall façade is adorned with intricate, entwining Hindu deities. Inside are shrines dedicated not only to Shiva's consort, but also sons Subramaniam and the elephant-headed Ganesha, as well as Vishnu and Krishna. It's well worth seeing, but taking pictures inside the complex is forbidden.