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Lop Buri [Lop Buri on the map]


[Buddha image]

Lop Buri is one of several provinces in central Thailand where many important archaeological finds, historical landmarks and prehistoric settlements have been discovered.
[Phra Prang Sam Yod Pagoda]
During the 6th and 7th centuries AD, Lop Buri was greatly influenced by Indian culture. It was also later influenced by the Khmer when they ruled over this area during the 11th and 12th centuries. The ruins of the Hindi Pagoda and the Phra Prang Sam Yod Pagoda are legendary for the hordes of monkeys that live within them.
For centuries the people of Lop Buri have worshipped these highly revered ruins with regular offerings of food, flowers and incense. It is the food from these offerings which first drew the monkeys from the nearby forests more than 500 years ago. The mischievous monkeys, who soon took over the town, were dubbed ambassadors of good luck by the people.
[A feast for the monkeys]
[Monkeys basking in the sun]
In modern times, once a year a businessman will sponsor a big feast for the monkeys on the last Sunday of November. The event, which is held at Phra Prand Sam Yod, is one of the most attractive and most talked about tourist events in Thailand.
[The ruins of an ancient palace]
Another significant ancient ruin in Lop Buri is the Somdet Phra Narai National Museum. In 1666 King Narai the Great, the 27th king (1656-1688 AD) of the Ayutthaya period, had French and Italian architects design and construct a palace in Lop Buri. Two centuries later, during the reign of King Rama IV, the palace was renovated and more buildings were added. The King then named the palace Phra Narai Ratchanivet.
Nowadays, the palace serves as an historic memorial to both King Narai the Great and King Rama IV. The Fine Arts Department has converted some of the throne halls into galleries to exhibit the archaeological remains from prehistoric times to the 13th century found in the Chao Phraya River Basin of central Thailand as well as relics of other art forms and ethnology.
Museum Hours:9.00 a.m.-4.00 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday
Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and national holidays
Admission Fee:10 baht
Museum Services:Lectures, guided tours, special exhibitions, slides, videos, postcards, books and a gift shop
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Comments to Terry F. at terryfrd@ksc15.th.com
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Last modified: March 27, 2000