LOPBURI
Lopburi was probably founded in pre-historical period until the Khemers who expanded their power to the town of Larvo dating from the 10th century and ruled over the area. In the middle of the 13th century when the Thais who had already migrated from the North and had settled down in this country. In 1664, King Narai the Great, a King of Ayutthaya made Lop Buri the second capital with the help of French architects. Therefore , the architectural style of Lop Buri in the reign of King Narai was half Thai and half western. Today it is a modern garrison town and provincial capital 153 kms., north of Bangkok.

Boundary
The North stretches to Phetchabun and Nakhon Sawan
The South stretches to Saraburi and
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
The East stretches to Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum
The West stretches to Singburi and Angthong and Nakhon Sawan


GETTING TO LOPBURI
By Bus
Both air-conditioned buses and non air-conditioned buses
leave the Northern Bus Terminal
(Mor chit 2) for Lop Buri every 15 minutes from
05.30 A.M. until 08.30 P.M. everyday.

By Car
Travelling by car from Bangkok to Lopburi is most convenient, there are three routes to choose depending on the starting point in Bangkok. Description of each route is as follow :
First route:Taking Highway No.1 (Phaholyothin Rd.) for 153 kms. via Saraburi.
Second route:Taking Highway No.1 (Phaholyothin Rd.) till Bang Pa-In District, turns left along Highway No.32 (Asia Rd.) via Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya and turn right at Angthong Interchange
to Angthong-Lop Buri Rd. for 2 hrs.
Third route: Taking Highway No.1 (Phaholyothin Rd.) via Phranakhon Sri Ayutthaya, Angthong and turn right to Highway No.311 (Singburi-Lopburi Rd.) at Singburi Interchange.

By Train
Trains leave the Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) for Lopburi many times daily.
Call 233-7010,233-7020 for further information.

Lopburi Climate
Located at about 14.80°N 100.60°E. Height about 10m / 32 feet above sea level
Best time for visit November - April
Rain Season May - October

Wang Kan Luang Waterfall Some 20 kms. from Lam Narai Market in Chai Badan District (via Highway 2089), this refreshing has ten cascades and flows throughout the year thanks to a nearby large underground water source.

Sunflower Field Some 45 kms.from Lopburi city, Thailand's largest sunflower plantation in Pattananikom district becomes a tourism attraction from November to January when sunflowers are in full bloom.

Lop Buri zoo
this 25-acre enclave is situated behind the Army Theatre near Sa Kaeo Circle. The zoo's inmates include favourite Asian and Australian birds and mammals. The most unusal spectacle is that of three tigers and four dogs, each suckle at birth by the dog's mother, living in unique harmony
and the love story of Mike and Zu Zu, a couple of urang-utan with a baby. The tree-shade area
is open everyday from 08.00 AM. until 06.00 PM.

Wat Khao Wongkhot (Bat Cave) Located at the foot of Sanam Daeng Mountain, the temple is noteworthy for a large bat cave from when inhabitants depart, weather permitting, around 06.00 PM. in great numbers to seek food. It takes up to 2 hours empty the cave. The temple derives income from the sale of bat's droppings.

Wat Khao Wong Phrachan
Located at the foot of Wong Phrachan Mountain in Tambon Hoei Pong, Khok Samrong District, some 28 kms. from Lopburi city on highway No.1 (Phaholyothin Rd.) and turn right at K.M. 178 for another 5 kms. It is the highest Mountain of Lopburi, 652 meters above sea level, surrounded by an atmosphere of shady trees and beautiful views of nature and Lopburi city.

Historical sites

Phra Prang Sam Yot
This former Hindu Shrine is some 200 meters from the railway station and is Lopburi's best known landmark. The laterite and sandstone structure was constructed in the Lopburi style and decorated with stucco. The three towers signify the Hindu Trinity of Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. During the reign of King Narai, the Great shrine was converted to a Buddhist temple.

San Phra Kan
This former Brahman shrine adjacent to Phra Prang Sam Yot comprises two sections, the older dationg back to the Khmer period, the newer dating from 1951. The latter contains a four-armed deity with a Buddha's head which is an object of worship. The shrine is noteworthy for a resident troupe of mischievous and entertaining monkeys.

Prang Kaek
This charming and petite Khmer ruin in the market place on Vichayen Rd. near Narai Ratchaniwet Palace was also a Hindu shrine and is considered to be Lopburi's oldest monument

Wat Phra Si Rattana
Mahathat Located north of the railway station, near the Phra Kan shrine, this temple was formerly a Khmer palace of worship. The Lopburi-style prang fronting the temple was built around 1157. The U-thong-style cement Buddhas on the prangs were added at a later date. The temple was probably restored during the reign of King Narai the Great.

Wat San Paolo
This Temple situated on Ram Decho Rd. some 1.5 kms. East of town, was originally a Jesuit church and the first observatory in Asia founded during King Narai's reign.

Kraison Siharat Hall (PhraThinang Yen)
Located on an island in a dried up lake, Tale Chupsorn,that formerly supplied drinking water
to Lopburi residents, the hall was build by King Narai and was used as a place by the King,Jesuits and Louis XIV's enjoys to witness a lunar eclipse on December 11,1685.

Narai Ratchaniwet Palace
This palace was built by King Narai the Great, constructed over a 12 year period from 1665 until 1667. Narai Ratchaniwet Palace is located in the town centre. Structure built during the reign of King Narai include.

The Water Reservior
constructed to store water which came through terra cotta pipes from a freshwater lake,
Tale Chupsorn, which supplied drinking water to the inhabitants of Lop Buri.

Phra Khlang Supharat
commonly known as the twelve treasure houses and built to store royal treasures,
as well as royal goods sold to foreign merchants during the late 1600s.

Prasat Hall
King Narai and this building constructed as an audience hall in which to receive high-ranking foreign visitors and ambassador. The king probably receive Chevalier de Choumont,
the representative of Louis XIV, in this hall. The building was contricted in a mixture of
French and Thai architectural styles.

Chantara Phisan Pavilion
originally the royal residence of King Narai, in 1665,
the pavilion was subsequently used as an audience hall after the king moved his residence to the Sutha Sawan Pavilion.
Architecturally, the building in purely Thai style, indicating that no French architects were involved in its construction.
The building was restored in 1863 by King Mongkut, and now serves as a hall for displaying archaeological and are objects.
Many Lopburi-style stone Buddha Images are kept in the building.

Suttha Sawan Pavilion
It was this residence that Narai the Great died on July 11,1688, while the palace was under the control of royal revolutionaries. Ruins of artificial hills and fountains remain. It was recorded that the pavilion originally stood amid a beautiful gatden that contained many fountains.

Vichayen House
Vichayen House was countered by King Narai as a residence for chevalier de Chaumont, the first French ambassador to Thailand during the reign of Louis XIV. Later, the residence was occupied by Chao Phraya vichayen (the Greek adventure Constantine Phaulkon) until his death in 1688. Many ruined buildings dot the compound, one served as a Roman Catholic chapel.
Others were residences for the ambassador and mision members.
Ruined brick water tanks and fountains are also visible.

Phiman Monkut Pavilion
The three-storied building was used by King Mongkut as his residence during the renovation of the palace. Three other two-storied buildings, namely the Sutthi Winitchai Pavilion, the Chai Sattrakorn Pavilion and the Aksorn Sattrakhom, are connected to the Phiman Monkut Pavilion. The three buildings are offices of the Lopburi.

Banquet Hall
built to entertain foreign visitors, the hall is surrounded on three side by ponds. A brick platform fronting the hall may have been a stage or theatre where guests were entertained, perhaps by shadow plays or dances, following dinner.

Farmer's Museum
Traditional agricultural tools and implements, including ploughs, carts, grain seperators and fish traps are displayed.

Phra Chao Hao Building was built by King Narai,The Great probably as a private audience hall, in Thai architectural style. Only wall sections remain, but designs decorating doors and windows are still visible. Phra Prathiap Buildings eight two-stories buildings behind King Monkut's residence were used as the residence of inner court officials.Prang Nang Phom Hom Some 2 kms. from Nong Ree market, Tambon Nong Ree, Lam Sonthi district. It was constructed in Khmer style with laterite and sandstone, look like Prang Koo of Northeastern region.

Somdet Phra Narai National Museum
This museum was established in 1924 in the Narai Ratchaniwet Palace. the museum is open from 9.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. everyday except Monday and Tuesday. Various object d'art and antiques are displayed in three more buildings.

Phiman Monkut Pavilion
Prehistoric atrefacts, such as stone axes and earthenware, ancient Buddha images, woodcarvings, statues of celestial beings and the like are displayed.The three-storied building was used by
King Mongkut as his residence during the renovation of the palace.

Chantharaphisan Pavilion
Buddhist artefacts from the Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods, and historic paintings from King Narai,s reign, are displayed. Wat Yang Na Rangsi Located beside the Lopburi river, some 9 kms. south of the city centre, the temple is notable for its wooden sala (teaching hall) dating from the 1920s, which houses a Local Boat Museum where in many local vessels are displayed.

Wat Lai
Located on the banks of the Bang Kham canal, Tha Wung district, some 24 kms. From Lopburi, this Ayutthaya-period temple is particularly noteworth for a chapel with stucco renditions of the Buddha's previous life, and his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The exquisite craftmanship makes this a masterpiece of Thai sculpture.

More things to do in Lopburi: Rock Climbing (Pdf)

King Narai Reign Fair The fair celebrates the reign of King Narai the Great, the Ayutthaya monarch best known forhis promotion of diplomatic relations with European powers during the mid-1600s. The fair is largely staged at King Narai's Palace, and features homage-paying ceremonies, colorful processions, a light & sound presentation, folk entertainment and native bazaars.

Chinese Banquet Party for monkeys
Over 2,000 monkeys enjoyed a delectable vegetarian Chinese-style banquet, replete with
Thai fruits and popular desserts, at the city's Prang Sam Yod and Phra Kan Shrine.
The banquet will be staged at 10.00 AM., 12.00 noon and 02.00 PM.. Special gifts,
including mirrors and toys, will be presented to monkeys, who lend both structures much
of their colour and atmosphere.

Metal Figures (Brass):
the metal workers who live at Ban Tha Krayang,
Muang Lopburi District used to make metal Buddha Images. Later, they began to make other metal figures such as the
home decorated.

Din Sor Phong
or Local White Body Powder):
Lop Buri has the finest Din Sor Pong in Thailand.
It has been a famous souvenir since ancient times. It is made in
Hin Song Gon Village, Tambon Ta-le Chupsorn, Muang Lopburi District.
It is said that the person who has come into contact with Din Sor Phong has not really been to Lopburi.


Madmee Cloth / Eel-Pattern Lain-Cloth:
weaving is done in Ban Kluy, Ban Sai and Hin Pak in Baan Mi District.
(Many colors of good quality inexpensive madmee cloth are available in Lopburi). The eel-pattern, Lain-cloth is one of the best Thai cloth since ancient time.

Sand Stone Carvings-Imitation Antiques:
at Baan Panaid in Khok Samrong District, the villagers carve sand stone into imitation antiques such as wheel of dharma with deer lying next to it, Thavarawadee-style, Suriya Thep, Lopburi style Buddha images, animals etc.

Coconut Jelly:
This is famous dessert from Lopburi at which is served with ice. The jelly is made of coconut juice and acetic. During the process of fermentation, a white fungi jelly is formed, which grows with time. It is calls coconut jelly,and is easily found.

Marl Salted Eggs:
These are famous souvenirs from Lopburi.
Eggs are preserved with salt, sugar, marl, cinder and husks.
They are packed in boxes for sale. This popular food can be made into sweet eggs, fried salted eggs, boiled salted eggs and green-curry salted egg.
They are on sale in many places.

Soured Fish:
This is white fish-grai, salard or yesok fishcrushed, compacted and fermented with salt, rice and pickled garlic. The mixture is left for 3 days to produce a sour taste. It can be served as an horsd'oeuver just like fermented pork sausages, but it is tangier. It is a famous souvenir from Lopburi,available at many places.