Lopburi
Lopburi is an ancient Thai city 150 kilometers from Bangkok, located on the northern edge of the Central Plain on the banks of the river of the same name. The ruins of the Khmer temples of the Old City were favored by monkeys, so Lopburi is also known as the "city of monkeys". In ancient times, Lopburi was one of the important centers of the Khmer Empire and the second capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
Lopburi on map
Overview
Phra Navai Ratchaniwet, a Palace and Museum in Lopburi, Thailand
Attractions
Khmer Ruins
Local archaeological sites remind of Lopburi's historical past — the ancient temples of c, Phra Kaan Shrine and Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, the atmospheric functioning Wat Sao Thong Thong temple, as well as the ruins of the former royal palace of Phra Narai Ratchanivet.
The main sights of the city are located in the Old Town within walking distance from each other.
Phra Prang Sam Yot (Monkey Temple) in Lopburi, Myang Lopburi District, Lopburi Province, Thailand
Monkeys
The population of macaques in Lopburi periodically gets out of control. Local residents blame the increase in the number of monkeys on the deforestation of nearby forests – the permanent habitat of monkeys. Animals gather in packs and hooliganize on the roads, bully tourists, steal fruits and vegetables from local residents, and can even block the movement of vehicles on the road by staging scuffles. However, along with the historical ruins, monkeys have already become an integral part of Lopburi, and most tourists tend to look at these attractions precisely because of their nimble neighbors.
Monkeys in Lopburi "occupy" a tourist bus
Where to stay
Lopburi often serves as a stopover for travelers from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai. The choice of accommodation in the Old Town is small, the place is not a resort — you can find only a few mini–hotels and guest houses.
Sura Songkhram Rd, Old Town, Lopburi
Further from the center, in the new town and suburbs of Lop Buri, you can consider a wider range of housing options. There are no usual tuk-tuks in Lopburi, the main means of transportation in Lopubri are cars and songteos that run between the old and new cities.
How to get
You can get to Lopburi from Ayutthaya and Bangkok by train, the journey will take about an hour in the first case and 3.5 hours in the second. The route is followed by an air–conditioned express - Special Express DRC. From the Thai capital, Lopburi can be reached by car, minibus, mini–vienna and taxi.
Where to go from Lopburi
From Lopburi, tourists most often follow only to Northern Thailand: in the direction of Chiang Mai, or to Pitsanulok and from there to Sukhothai. To continue traveling to the islands of Thailand, it is better to return to Bangkok.
