Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
that occurred during the construction of the hotel, at that time known as the Erawan
Hotel. After several incidents ranging from injured construction workers to the sinking of
a ship carrying marble for the hotel, a Brahmin priest was consulted. Since the hotel was
to be named after the elephant escort of Indra in Hindu mythology, the priest determined
that Erawan required a passenger, and suggested it be that of Lord Brahma. A statue was
built, and lo and behold, the misfortunes miraculously ended.
Although the original Erawan Hotel was demolished in 1987, the shrine still exists,
and today remains an important place of pilgrimage for Thais, particularly those in need
of some material assistance. Those making a wish from the statue should ideally come
between 7am and 8am, or 7pm and 8pm, and should offer a specific list of items that in-
cludes candles, incense, sugar cane or bananas, all of which are almost exclusively given
in multiples of seven. Particularly popular are teak elephants, the money gained through
the purchase of which is donated to a charity run by the current hotel, the Grand Hyatt
Erawan. And as the tourist brochures depict, it is also possible for you to charter a clas-
sical Thai dance, often done as a way of giving thanks if a wish has been granted.
Other Areas
MUSEUM
Suan Pakkad Palace Museum
(Th Si Ayuthaya; admission 100B; 9am-4pm; Phaya Thai exit 4)
The overlooked treasure of Suan
Pakkad is a collection of eight traditional wooden Thai houses that was once the residen-
ce of Princess Chumbon of Nakhon Sawan and before that a lettuce farm ('suan
pakkad')- hence the name. Within the stilt buildings are displays of art, antiques and fur-
nishings, and the landscaped grounds are a peaceful oasis complete with ducks, swans
and a semi-enclosed garden.
The diminutive Lacquer Pavilion, at the back of the complex, dates from the Ayuthaya
period and features gold-leaf
jataka
(stories of the Buddha's past lives) and
Ramayana
murals, as well as scenes from daily Ayuthaya life. The building originally sat in a mon-
astery compound on Mae Nam Chao Phraya, just south of Ayuthaya.
Larger residential structures at the front of the complex contain displays of Khmer-
style Hindu and Buddhist art, Ban Chiang ceramics and a very interesting collection of
historic Buddhas, including a beautiful late U Thong-style image.
