Wat Pathum Wanaram sits, incongruously, between Siam Paragon and CentralWorld — one of Bangkok's most ancient temples in the middle of its most commercial district. The temple was founded in 1857 by Rama IV and has royal associations that protect it from the surrounding redevelopment.
The temple became a site of tragedy in May 2010 when protesters who had taken shelter inside the temple compound during the military crackdown on red-shirt demonstrations were shot and killed. A small memorial marks the spot. The contrast between the active commercial life of the surrounding malls and the quiet of the temple interior makes this an unexpectedly sobering stop on a day of Bangkok shopping.