| What is Ratchaprasong, you ask? Ratchaprasong | | | | The Central Chit Lom shopping mall is a flagship |
| is a financial and fashion area in Bangkok, Thailand. | | | | store of the Central Group department stores. It |
| For over 50 years Ratchaprasong has been the | | | | opened in 1973. This mall has eight floors and six |
| center of Bangkok's cosmopolitan center. | | | | of the eight have a different name. The first floor |
| The area is located within Bangkok's Panthum | | | | is called the Heavan of Luxury and offers |
| Wan shopping district and is one of the most | | | | cosmetics, designer boutiques and luxury jewelry. |
| decorated areas in the city. Much like New York | | | | The second floor is the Women's Dream |
| City's Times Square, this area is the center of | | | | Wardrobe and offers women's clothes, bags, |
| Bangkok's activities. | | | | shoes and fashion accessories. |
| Some of the main attraction here are the Erawan | | | | The third floor is called Young & Idea Unlimited |
| Shrine, the lights during the holidays, and the | | | | Precious Time. The fourth floor is called Men's |
| Foreign Correspondents' Club Thailand. | | | | Fashion Statement. The fifth floor is named All |
| The Erawan Shrine is a Hindu shrine that houses a | | | | About Home. And, lastly, the sixth floor is called |
| statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of | | | | Top of the World. |
| the Hindu creation god Brahma. The shrine was | | | | Central World is Southeast Asia's largest shopping |
| built in 1956 to correct bad omens that were | | | | mall and is also an office complex. This mall is also |
| believed to be caused by the laying of the | | | | owned by the Central Group department stores. |
| foundations of the hotel it was next to, the | | | | The mall was reopened in 2006 after three years |
| Erawan Hotal, on the wrong date. | | | | of redesign and renovation. |
| There are also many more other shrines located | | | | The complex is now 550,000 square meters large |
| in this area. While in the area, keep an eye out for | | | | but was originally 300,000 square meters. It first |
| Par Inn, Phra Pikanet (Ganesh), Pra Narai, Pra-mae | | | | opened in 1990 and was called the World Trade |
| Lakshmi, and Pra Tri Murati. | | | | Center. The mall was eight stories high. It now |
| The Foreign Correspondents' Club Thailand is | | | | has 51 floors and is geared towards the middle to |
| located in the penthouse of the Maneeya Building. | | | | high class with its "High Street" and designer |
| It hosts guest speakers, movie screenings, | | | | brands. |
| photographic exhibitions, and talks on current | | | | There are over 500 tenants in the complex. In |
| events. | | | | the complex are many big box stores, such as |
| Also attracting people to this area are the | | | | Toys R Us, Super Sports, Power buy and B2S. |
| shopping centers and malls. Central Chit Lom, | | | | Isetan, a Japanese department store chain also |
| Central World, Gaysorn, Amarin Plaza and the Big | | | | has six stories of products, a supermarket and |
| C Ratchadamri are all shopping centers located | | | | restaurant in the complex. |
| with the Ratchaprasong area. | | | | |