🐒 Lopburi

Posted by moritour on

🐒 Lopburi – The City of Monkeys

English
Lopburi is a city like no other. Known as the “City of Monkeys,” it’s famous for the thousands of macaques that roam freely around the ancient Khmer temple of Phra Prang Sam Yot.

🌟 Highlights

  • Monkey Festival – An annual event where locals prepare a feast for the monkeys.
  • Phra Prang Sam Yot – A beautiful Khmer temple that has become the monkeys’ playground.
  • Old Town – A charming area with history, local markets, and colonial architecture.

Lopburi is fun, historic, and a little wild — making it a must-see stop for adventurous travelers.

Deutsch
Lopburi ist eine Stadt wie keine andere. Bekannt als die „Stadt der Affen“, ist sie berühmt für die tausenden Makaken, die frei rund um den Khmer-Tempel Phra Prang Sam Yot leben.

🌟 Höhepunkte

  • Affenfest – Ein jährliches Festival, bei dem die Einheimischen den Affen ein Festmahl bereiten.
  • Phra Prang Sam Yot – Ein wunderschöner Khmer-Tempel, der heute der Spielplatz der Affen ist.
  • Altstadt – Ein charmantes Viertel mit Geschichte, Märkten und kolonialer Architektur.

Lopburi ist unterhaltsam, historisch und ein bisschen wild – ein Muss für abenteuerlustige Reisende.

ไทย
ลพบุรี เป็นเมืองที่ไม่เหมือนใคร ได้ชื่อว่าเป็น “เมืองลิง” มีชื่อเสียงจากฝูงลิงวอกนับพันที่อาศัยอยู่รอบ ๆ พระปรางค์สามยอด วัดขอมโบราณ

🌟 ไฮไลท์

  • งานเลี้ยงลิง – เทศกาลประจำปีที่ชาวบ้านจัดอาหารเลี้ยงลิงอย่างยิ่งใหญ่
  • พระปรางค์สามยอด – ปราสาทขอมสวยงามที่กลายเป็นสนามเด็กเล่นของลิง
  • เมืองเก่า – เต็มไปด้วยประวัติศาสตร์ ตลาด และสถาปัตยกรรมโคโลเนียล

ลพบุรีเต็มไปด้วยความสนุก ประวัติศาสตร์ และความดิบเล็กน้อย เหมาะสำหรับนักท่องเที่ยวที่ชอบการผจญภัย

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One Comment Add yours

  1. Christian Mueller's avatar Christian Mueller says:
    September 26, 2025 at 2:49 am

    Wow, what an absolutely fantastic and insightful post about Lopburi! 🤩 The “City of Monkeys” is truly one of the most unique places in all of Thailand, and your highlights of the Monkey Festival and Phra Prang Sam Yot capture the spirit of the city perfectly. It’s a place where ancient history and chaotic, yet lovable, nature collide in the most memorable way. Thank you for sharing this! It definitely makes me want to jump in a van with MoriTour and visit immediately! 🚐💨

    Lopburi’s story is so much deeper than just the macaques, and understanding its incredible past just makes the modern-day experience even richer. For anyone reading this and planning a trip, here is some extra background information that shows why Lopburi is such a historically critical city!

    Lopburi’s Deep History – Older Than Siam! 🕰️

    Many travelers know about the ancient capitals of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, but Lopburi, which was historically known as Lavo, is actually much older, dating back to the Dvaravati period (around the 6th-11th centuries CE). It was one of the first major centers of civilization and early Buddhism in this region. You can learn more about its long history right here: Lopburi – Wikipedia.

    Imagine a city that has been continuously important for over a thousand years! This long timeline is why you see such a mix of architectural styles—from Mon and Dvaravati foundations to spectacular later Khmer temples and 17th-century European-influenced palaces. It’s a complete journey through Southeast Asian history, all packed into one charming (and often chaotic!) old town.

    The Mighty Khmer Connection: A Link to Angkor Wat 🇰🇭

    The highlight of the city, Phra Prang Sam Yot, which translates to the “Sanctuary with the Three Towers,” is a stunning and very important piece of evidence of the ancient Khmer Empire’s reach. This structure is not Thai in origin—it is pure Khmer architecture, built from laterite and stucco in the distinctive Bayon style.

    This temple was built around the late 12th or early 13th century, likely during the reign of the famous Khmer King Jayavarman VII—the very same king responsible for the incredible Angkor Thom and the Bayon temple in Cambodia! This means that when you visit Phra Prang Sam Yot in Lopburi, you are looking at architecture that is the cultural sibling of what you see at Angkor Wat – Wikipedia in Siem Reap! The three connected prangs (towers) are characteristic of the Khmer style from that period and are thought to represent the Hindu Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) before the site was later converted to a Buddhist temple. If you love the history of Cambodia and the magnificent scale of Angkor, you absolutely must visit Phra Prang Sam Yot. It shows how connected the Khmer people were to the central Chao Phraya Basin. You can read more details about this historical landmark here: Phra Prang Sam Yot – Wikipedia.

    The Golden Era of King Narai the Great 👑

    Lopburi’s second huge claim to fame came much later, in the 17th century, when the city was reborn as a major power center. King Narai the Great of the Ayutthaya Kingdom (who reigned from 1656–1688) decided to make Lopburi his second capital. He did this largely because the primary capital, Ayutthaya, was being threatened by a Dutch naval blockade, so he needed a safe inland retreat!

    King Narai’s reign was a golden age of international trade and diplomacy. He built the magnificent King Narai’s Palace (Phra Narai Ratchaniwet) using a mix of traditional Thai and European architectural styles, even employing Jesuit architects and engineers! This era saw Siamese ambassadors traveling to France, and French envoys visiting Lopburi, which was unheard of at the time. The remains of the Reception Hall (Ban Vichayen) are a powerful symbol of this East-meets-West history. King Narai was truly a remarkable figure: Narai – Wikipedia.

    Did You Know That? 🤔 Surprising Facts About Lopburi’s Residents

    • The Monkey Gods: The reason the long-tailed macaques are tolerated and even celebrated in Lopburi, culminating in the annual feast (The Monkey Buffet Festival!), stems from an old local belief. Many locals believe the monkeys are descendants or followers of Hanuman, the heroic Hindu monkey god from the Ramayana epic! This reverence is why they are seen as sacred and have been allowed to thrive freely for so long. Check out the legendary Hanuman: Hanuman – Wikipedia.
    • The Second Capital: Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram (Phibun), a key figure in 20th-century Thai politics, seriously considered making Lopburi the capital of Thailand again after World War II! The city’s strategic location and military history made it a strong candidate for a new national center.
    • Monkey Mafia Turf Wars: The population of macaques has now grown to an estimated 6,000 to 7,000, and they are sometimes divided into rival clans or gangs with their own territories! The most famous group lives around Phra Prang Sam Yot and the nearby San Phra Kan Shrine, but the growing numbers have caused some chaos, leading authorities to try and run sterilization campaigns to help balance the human/primate dynamic. It’s a real-life Planet of the Apes situation!

    Lopburi is a destination that offers history, culture, and a thrilling, unforgettable wildlife encounter. It’s one of the best ways to experience Thailand’s deep roots, especially the incredible Khmer and Cambodian heritage that stretches across Southeast Asia.

    If you are looking for the most comfortable and safe way to explore this ancient city, especially when dealing with the cheeky monkeys, traveling with MoriTour is the way to go! We know the best spots, the safest routes, and exactly how to handle the primate residents! 😉🐒

    Keep up the great work with this blog! Let’s get more people traveling in comfort!

    #Lopburi #CityOfMonkeys #ThailandHistory #KhmerEmpire #KingNarai #PhraPrangSamYot #AngkorConnection #TravelThailand #MoriTour #AncientLavo #HistoryVlog ✨🇹🇭🇰🇭

    Want to book your trip to Lopburi and the other historical sites in Thailand? Contact us!

    E-Mail: Moritour18@gmail.com
    Line ID: moritour
    Facebook: MoriTour
    Instagram: moritour.thailand

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