Temples & religious sites
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Bangkok
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, also known as Maha Uma Devi Temple (Thai: วัดพระศรีมหาอุมาเทวี; RTGS: Wat Phra Si Maha Umathewi and Wat Khaek in Thai, is a South Indian architecture style Hindu temple on Si Lom Road in Bangkok, Thailand. It was built in 1879 by Vaithi Padayatchi, a Tamil Hindu immigrant.
What it is
This is a South Indian-style Hindu temple on Silom Road, built in 1879 by a Tamil immigrant and still serving Bangkok's Tamil Hindu community. The main draw is the facade: a tall gopuram covered in colorful carved figures of Hindu deities, quite different from the Buddhist temples that dominate the city. Inside, the shrine is dedicated to Mariamman (a form of Shakti), with smaller shrines to other deities around the compound. It's a working temple with regular devotional activity, not a static sightseeing stop.
Getting there
It sits directly on Silom Road, an easy walk from Sala Daeng or Chong Nonsi BTS stations, roughly 10-15 minutes on foot from either. From most points in central Bangkok it's a short taxi or ride-share ride, generally under 20 minutes barring heavy Silom traffic.
How long to stay
Most visitors spend 20 to 40 minutes here, enough to look around the compound and the main shrine. It's a compact site, not a sprawling complex.
When to go
Mornings tend to be calmer. The temple gets busy during Hindu festivals and puja times, when the crowd is mostly devotees rather than tourists, so it's worth being mindful and respectful if you visit then. Modest dress is expected, and shoes come off before entering the inner shrine areas.
Combine it with
- Assumption Cathedral (0.8km) and Holy Rosary Church (1.3km) — both walkable, making an easy loop of Bangkok's religious architecture from different traditions.
- Sathorn Unique Tower (1.1km) — the abandoned "ghost tower," a short walk or ride away for those interested in Bangkok's unfinished megaprojects.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
