About Lopburi
Lopburi lies about 150 km northeast of Bangkok and is one of the country's oldest cities. It began as a Dvaravati settlement, became a Khmer city called Lavapura and, in the seventeenth century under King Narai, served as a second capital of Ayutthaya. That past shows in Khmer towers, palace ruins and old temples set in everyday town life. The city is best known for the macaques that live around the monuments: they climb on roofs, love to steal food and are easy to watch near Phra Prang Sam Yot and the San Phra Kan shrine. Hold on to bags and sunglasses and do not feed the animals by hand. In late November locals honour the monkeys with a festive buffet. Lopburi works well as a stop on the way north.
Best time to visit (indicative)
Best from November to February: dry and relatively cool. March to May is hot; June to October is the rainy season with the most rain around September. Ruins and markets are most pleasant early in the morning. Weather varies from year to year; this is a guideline based on the climate.
Getting there
From Bangkok by train (roughly 2.5 to 3 hours) or bus; the old centre and the station are close together and walkable. Distances and travel times are rounded estimates.
Things to do in Lopburi
- Phra Prang Sam Yot A three-towered Khmer temple where the macaques roam daily; the most famous spot in town.
- King Narai’s Palace The remains of the seventeenth-century palace and its museum show Lopburi as a royal city.
- San Phra Kan shrine A small shrine beside the railway, right by the monkeys, with Khmer remains and plenty of visitors.
- Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat A large temple complex in the old centre with a Khmer prang and later Ayutthaya-era structures.
