The City Pillar Shrine, Surat Thani
The City Pillar Shrine in Surat Thani is a sacred local landmark where residents pay respect to the city's guardian spirit, offering visitors a glimpse into local beliefs and traditions.
The City Pillar Shrine, Surat Thani
The city pillar shrine - lak mueang - holds the founding pillar of Surat Thani, the spirit-home of the town, and every Thai provincial capital has one. This shrine is unusual for the strength of its Chinese architecture: a red and gold pavilion with upswept eaves, dragon columns and Chinese lettering, reflecting the long-established Chinese community of the river port.
It stands near the Tapi riverfront in the middle of town and is in constant use - residents come to make offerings, and the surrounding square fills for the shrine's annual festival.
Surat Thani is the mainland gateway to Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao, so most visitors are in transit here; the shrine and the riverfront night market are the two things worth an hour in the town itself.
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