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