Silom Bangkok: Financial District Meets Hindu Temples (2026 Guide)
Silom is Bangkok’s Wall Street. Skyscrapers, rooftop bars, suited office workers rushing past 150-year-old Hindu temples. It’s weird. You’ll see a colorful Tamil shrine wedged between bank towers, then stumble into Lumphini Park where monitor lizards sunbathe by the lake.
Most tourists skip it for temples up north. Mistake. Silom shows you modern Bangkok’s chaos without the tourist traps (except Patpong at night, avoid that). Free temples, zero crowds, BTS access. Worth half a day if you want Bangkok beyond the guidebook clichĂ©s.
Why Visit Silom?
Silom evolved from King Rama IV’s 19th-century canal project into Bangkok’s financial core. Tamil immigrants built Sri Maha Mariamman Temple here in the 1860s when this was farmland. Now it’s sandwiched between HSBC and Citibank. That contrast is the point.
You get three things: a functioning Hindu temple locals actually use (not a tourist prop), Lumphini Park (Bangkok’s first public green space from 1925), and Assumption Cathedral with stained glass shipped from Europe in 1919. All free. No ticket scams, no dress code enforcers at the gate.
Visitor Rules & Etiquette
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (locals call it Wat Khaek) has one hard rule: no photos inside the compound. They will stop you. Outside the gate? Fine. Inside? Put your phone away.
Dress code is relaxed compared to Buddhist temples. Shoulders covered helps, but I’ve seen tourists in tank tops get in. Shoes off at the entrance, obviously. Don’t point your feet at the deities (Mariamman, Vishnu, Shiva statues are everywhere).
Patpong night market two blocks south is where the scams live. Fake Rolex watches, ping-pong show touts grabbing your arm, bars with no prices until the bill arrives. Just walk through for the chaos, don’t buy anything.
Top Highlights
1. Sri Maha Mariamman Temple: Six-meter tower covered in Hindu gods, built by Tamil traders. Locals bring flower garlands and coconuts for blessings. You’ll see office workers in suits praying before work. Open 6 AM to 8 PM, free entry. The neighboring Buddhist temple shares the same courtyard, which confuses everyone.
2. Lumphini Park: King Rama VI donated this land in 1925. Now it’s 142 acres of joggers, tai chi groups, and monitor lizards (they’re harmless, don’t feed them). His statue stands at the southwest entrance. Free, open sunrise to sunset. Paddle boats on the lake cost 40 baht per hour.
3. Assumption Cathedral: Romanesque church finished in 1919 after the original burned down. Stained glass windows imported from France, recently restored. Mass in Thai and English on Sundays. Free entry, modest dress (cover knees and shoulders here, they care more than the Hindu temple).
Getting There
BTS Skytrain is your friend. Sala Daeng station drops you at Silom Road’s center. Chong Nonsi station is closer to Lumphini Park’s south entrance. Both on the Silom Line (dark green).
Chao Phraya Express Boat stops at Sathorn Pier (also called Saphan Taksin). From there, walk 10 minutes north or grab a motorbike taxi (40 baht). If you’re coming from the airport, check Suvarnabhumi Airport to Silom or Don Mueang Airport to Silom for train combos.
Parking? Forget it. Traffic is brutal 7-10 AM and 4-7 PM. If you must drive, Central Silom Complex has underground parking (50 baht first hour). Walking between sites takes 15 minutes max, everything’s compact.
Visitor Info
Hours: Sri Maha Mariamman Temple opens 6 AM to 8 PM daily. Lumphini Park is sunrise to sunset (roughly 6 AM to 6:30 PM). Assumption Cathedral is 6 AM to 6 PM, but check mass schedules if you want to attend.
Prices: Everything listed here is free. Zero entrance fees for temples, park, or cathedral. Patpong market goods are negotiable (start at 30% of asking price, walk away if they don’t budge).
Crowds: Weekdays before 9 AM are dead. Lunch hour (12-1 PM) brings office workers to Lumphini Park. Weekends see families at the park, but temples stay quiet. Avoid Patpong after 8 PM unless you enjoy aggressive touts.
If you want deeper context on Silom’s Tamil history or the cathedral’s architecture, grab a guide from Viator. Most tours combine this with Chinatown or the Chao Phraya River (see City Center to Chao Phraya Riverside for boat connections).
Day trips from here: Ayutthaya ruins are 90 minutes north by train, Kanchanaburi’s Bridge on the River Kwai is two hours west.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Silom Bangkok safe for tourists?
Yes during the day. Stick to main roads, watch your bag in crowds. Patpong at night has scams but no violent crime. Avoid unlicensed taxis.
What is the dress code for Sri Maha Mariamman Temple?
No strict rules. Shoulders covered is polite, shoes off at entrance. They care more about the no-photo rule inside than your outfit.
Is entry to Lumphini Park free?
Completely free. Open sunrise to sunset daily. Paddle boats cost 40 baht per hour if you want to rent one.
How to get to Silom from BTS Skytrain?
Take the Silom Line (dark green) to Sala Daeng or Chong Nonsi stations. Both put you on Silom Road within 5 minutes’ walk of temples and park.
Are there scams in Patpong market Silom?
Yes. Vendors quote low prices then multiply at checkout. Bars hide drink costs. Ping-pong show touts are aggressive. Walk through, don’t buy.
What are the opening hours of Wat Khaek?
6 AM to 8 PM daily. Best visited early morning (7-9 AM) before heat and office crowds arrive.
