Ratchaprasong
Ratchaprasong (also Rajprasong) is the name of an intersection, and a shopping district named after it in Pathum Wan District, Bangkok, adjacent to Siam District. Located at the BTS Skytrain's Chit Lom Station and the intersection of Phloenchit, Rama I and Ratchadamri Roads. The area is home to many shopping malls and hotels.
Attractions
- Erawan Shrine – A Hindu/Buddhist shrine in Bangkok, Thailand that houses a statue of four-faced Brahma Sahampati has regular dance performances put on by a troupe paid by worshippers whose prayers at the shrine were answered. Five other shrines are located in the area as well: Phra-mae Lakshmi, Phra Tri Murati, Phra Bighanesh (Ganesh), Phra Indra and Phra Narayana song suban.
- Festive season lights – Every year around Christmas and New Year, Ratchaprasong is heavily decorated with lights. The decorations were started by Peninsular Plaza 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.
Hotels
- Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok – Built on the site of the original Erawan Bangkok; also has a shopping arcade
- Holiday Inn Bangkok
- Intercontinental Bangkok – Has connecting bridge to Gaysorn through its President Tower shopping arcade.
- Four Seasons Hotel – Formerly The Regent Bangkok, at BTS Ratchadamri Station.
- Hansar Hotel, at BTS Ratchadamri Station
- Sawasdee Langsuan Inn (Chidlom - Sukhumvit) 93/4 Soi Lang Suan 5, Ploenchit Road, Bangkok 10330.
- Arnoma Hotel, Bangkok
Transportation
- BTS Skytrain
- Chit Lom Station connects to Central Chidlom, Maneeya Center, Grand Hyatt Erawan, Gaysorn and CentralWorld. The walkway extends to Siam Station.
- Ratchadamri Station – a few metres walk to the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok and Royal Bangkok Sports Club.
- MRT Subway
- Lumphini Station a few metres walk to Lumphimi Park.
- Silom Station a few meters walk to Lumphimi Park, Dusit Thani Hotel and Chulalongkorn Hospital.
- Sam Yan Station a few meters walk to The Thai Red Cross, Wat Hua Lamphong and Chulalongkorn University.
- Hua Lamphong Station connects to Hua Lamphong Central Train Station.
- Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat service – Pratu Nam Pier is nearby.
- 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 a political campaign 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.
After weeks of failed negotiations, the Thai army moved in to clear the Ratchaprasong intersection on May 19, 2010. The violent government crackdown against the "Red Shirt" protesters resulted in the deaths of about 90 civilians and soldiers. Protestors set fire to buildings in the area;[1] this resulted in the partial destruction of Bangkok's largest shopping mall, the CentralWorld complex.[2] As of June 2012, reconstruction at the Ratchaprasong intersection is complete.
References
External links
Coordinates: 13°44′40″N 100°32′24″E / 13.74444°N 100.54000°E