Perhaps the most popular shrine in Bangkok is the Erawan
Shrine. Thai four-headed figure of Brahma is a reflection of the Hindu
influence in Thailand. Brahma is the Hindu god of creation.
You will frequently see musicians and dancers performing at the shrine. They are paid by worshippers who have had their wish granted and want to show their gratitude.
There is another popular Brahma shrine next to the World Trade Center.
Behind the Hilton International - Bangkok you will find an interesting phallus shrine. The phallus is carved of stone with spirit houses surrounding it. There is a very old banyan tree nearby that is said to have a female deity living in it.
The shrine is visited mostly by women who want to have a child.
Historic Catholic Churches
Near the River City Shopping Complex, you will find Holy Rosary Church. Some of the first foreign visitors to Bangkok were Portuguese missionaries.
This church was built in 1787 and then rebuilt about a hundred years later by Catholics from Viet Nam and Cambodia. The stained-glass windows are impressive as are the gilded ceilings.
The Portuguese also built the Church of the Immaculate Conception. It is near Sapan Krungthon. The original site was built in 1674 and then rebuilt in 1837. There is a museum in one of the original buildings.