Phra Prang Sam Yot Temple in Lopburi, Thailand

About the ruin

What is "Prang"?

The name of the Temple does not have the usual Thai Wat (Wat). The architectural structure of this landmark is called the prang temple in the form of a tower. In Thailand, prangs were mainly built during the prosperity of Ayutthaya. A prang is often part of a Buddhist temple complex, but it can also be an independent structure.

History and symbolism

The history of the temple is manifested in its multi–symbolism and characteristic architecture: the three temple towers mean the symbol of trimurti in Hinduism - Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Now two of them house dilapidated Buddha statues, and the Khmer period is marked by specific architectural elements.

The temple grounds are surrounded on all sides by modern buildings, and the best view of Prang Sam Yot is from the upper floors of the Myang Thong Hotel. The temple has night lighting and is extremely beautiful in the dark.

What to watch

Tourists go to see Prang Sam Yot not so much because of the historical ruins, but for the sake of the monkeys who occupied it. It is popularly called the "Monkey Temple". And this place is covered with legends.

Lopburi is considered the sacred city of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, and the temple of Prang Sam Yot is the main citadel of monkeys. The story of the Lopburi monkeys is connected with the epic "Ramayana", where Hanuman's monkey army helped Rama save Sita from Ravana. Lopburi is mentioned in the epic under the name Lavapura – one of the royal capitals, so later the city received such a sacred status.

According to rumors, the animals began to get out of control due to the annual urban monkey feeding festival - "Monkey Buffet", which has been held in Thailand since 2007. During the event, the locals treat the monkeys with fruits and vegetables. Now there are more than 2,000 individuals in the district, most of whom live in the temple in isolation from human society.

Living in close proximity to humans, monkeys become arrogant, stop being afraid to take treats and personal belongings right out of the hands of tourists. Huddling in flocks, monkeys can be aggressive, which is why city services have hired them. special employees who feed the animals during the day so that they do not bully and attack tourists.

Working hours

From 06:00 to 18:00 daily

How to get to the temple

The entrance ticket to the territory of Prang Sam Yod costs 50

How to get

The temple area of Prang Sam Yot is located in the Old Town of Lopburi, you can reach the attraction on foot or by taxi or songteu.

Time for inspection

A walk through the sights will take about an hour at a leisurely pace.