Pathumwan

Bangkok has many downtowns that blend into each other, but Pathumwan, which encompasses two major shopping areas, Siam Square and the Rajaprasong Junction, along with important attractions such as Erawan Shrine and the intriguing Jim Thompson House, is the closest thing to a "downtown" in Central Bangkok. Gaysorn Shopping Centre (for luxury goods) and the gigantic Central World mall are at Rajaprasong Junction, the intersection of Ratchadamri and Ploenchit roads. Among the numerous markets bearing Pathumwan addresses are the ones in Pantip Plaza—Thailand's biggest computer center and, with five floors of computer stores, an overwhelming shopping experience—and the Pratunam Market garment district. See Shopping, below, for more about these malls and markets.