Провинция Лопбури (Lopburi) в Тайланде.

Overview : The monkeys city

Lop Buri, formerly known as "Lawo", was one of the important ancient towns of the Khmers from the 10th-13th century. Many Khmer ruins are found in and around this town. During the Ayutthaya period, King Narai the Great established Lop Buri as the second capital with the help of French architects. Most of the architecture of that time reflects the mixture of Thai and Western styles.

153 kilometres north of Bangkok. It covers an area of 6,199 square kilometres. Lopburi was probably founded in pre-historical period until the Khemers who expanded their power to the town of Larvo dating from the 10th century and ruled over the area. In the middle of the 13th century when the Thais who had already migrated from the North and had settled down in this country. In 1664, King Narai the Great, a King of Ayutthaya made Lop Buri the second capital with the help of French architects.

Therefore , the architectural style of Lop Buri in the reign of King Narai was half Thai and half western. Today it is a modern garrison town and provincial capital 153 km, north of Bangkok.

Boundary:
The North stretches to Phetchabun and Nakhon Sawan The South stretches to Saraburi and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya The East stretches to Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum The West stretches to Singburi and Angthong and Nakhon Sawan.

Attractions:
Statue of King Narai the Great
This statue is situated at the entrance of the town. It was erected to honour King Narai the Great who made Lop Buri an important and prosperous town. He commanded many magnificent structures built in this town including the Phra Narai Ratchaniwet Palace, several fortifications and a Buddhist sanctuary. He was the first one to apply modern technology in the observatory and in laying terracotta pipes to supply water to the palace.

As for his foreign policy, King Narai was the first Thai monarch who established diplomatic relations with France and attributed friendly policy towards other foreigners. Especially the Europeans.

Phra Prang Sam Yot
This former Hindu shrine is some 200 metres from the railway station and is Lob Buri's best known landmark. The laterite and sandstone structure was constructed in the Lop Buri style and decorated with stucco. Adjoining towers signify the Hindu Trinity of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. During the reign of King Narai, the shrine was converted to a Buddhist Temple.

San Phra Kan
This former Brahman shrine is adjacent to Phra Prang Sam Yot. It consists of an ancient Khmer ruin and a shrine constructed in 1951 for a worshiped four-armed deity figure with a Buddha image's head. The monkeys living in the compound sometimes cause mischief when approached.

Prang Khaek
This charming and petite Khmer ruin is in the market place on Vichayen Road. The structure was built in the 15th century as a Hindu shrine with three adjoining towers, but it is much smaller than Phra Prang Sam Yot. It is considered to be the oldest monument of Lop Buri.

Wat Phra Si Maha
That This temple is located behind the railway station near Phra Kan Shrine. The Lop Buri style prang or tower fronting the temple was built around 1157 when the the town was ruled by the Khmer. The U-Thong style Buddha images on the prang were added at a late date. The temple was probably restored during the reign of King Narai the Great.

Vichayen House
was a residence for Chevalier de Chaumont, the first French ambassador to Thailand during the reign of Louis XVI. Later, the place was occupied by Chao Phraya Vichayen (a Greek adventurer Constantine Phaulkon ) until he was executed by the revolutionaries in 1688. Many ruined buildings dot the compound, one served as a Roman Catholic chapel. Others were residences for the ambassador and mission members. Ruined brick water tanks and fountains are visible.

Narai Ratchaniwet Palace
This palace in the town centre was built by King Narai and took 12 years to be completed (1665-1677). Now the whole compound has been turned into the Lop Buri National Museum and houses the following historical buildings:

Water Reservoir stored water which came through terracotta pipes from Tha-le Chupson, a large freshwater lake which supplied drinking water to the inhabitants of Lop Buri.

Phra Khlang Supharat commonly known as the twelve treasure houses, stored the royal treasures as well as royal goods for selling to foreign merchants.

Elephant and Horse Stables located close to the wall separating the outer section of the palace from the middle section.

Chanthon Phisan Phisan Pavilion was built as a royal residence of King Narai in 1665. It was subsequently used as an audience hall after King Narai had moved his residence to Suttha Sawan Pavilion. The building was constructed in pure Thai style, thus indicating that no French architects were involved in its construction. The building was restored by King Rama IV in 1863 and is now used as a hall for displaying archaeological art objects. Many Lop Buri style stone Buddha images are kept in the building.

Phiman Mongkut Pavilion is a three-storied brick building used as a residence of King Rama IV when he visited Lop Buri during the renovation of the palace. Connected with the pavilion are the other three buildings namely Suttha Wintchai Pavilion, Chia Sattrakon Pavilion and Akson Sattrakhom. All of these buildings are now used as the offices of the Lop Buri National Museum.
Dusit Sawan Thanya Maha Prasat Hall King Narai had this building constructed to be used as an audience hall for high-ranking foreign visitors and ambassadors. He probably received Chevalier de Chaumont, King Louis XIV's representative, in this hall. The building was constructed in a mixed Thai and Western architectural style.

Suttha Sawan Pavilion
This residence is where King Narai died on 11 July,1688, while the palace was under the control of revolutionaries. Ruins of the pavilion, artificial hills and fountains remain. It has been recorded that the pavilion stood amidst a beautiful garden in which there were many fountains.

Phra Chao Hao Building located in the south of the outer section of the palace was built, probably as a private audience hall, in Thai style. Only wall sections remain, but the decorative designs at the doors and windows are still visible.

Banquet Hall built to entertain important foreign visitors, is surrounded on three sides by ponds. A brick platform fronting the hall may have been a stage or theatre where guests were entertained, perhaps by shadow plays or dances, after dinner.

Wat San Paulo
This is situated on Ruam Decho Road, some 1.5 Kms. east of the town. It was originally a church of the Jesuits founded during the reign of King Narai, and also the first observatory in Asia. Now only a brick wall of a high tower remains behind the church site. The name "San Paulo" called by Thais probably derive from "Saint Paul".

Wat Sao Thong Thong is to the north of the Royal Palace. The wihara and the main Buddha image were created in the Ayutthaya period. Later, King Narai restored this monastery and changed the windows of the windows of the wihara into a western style.

Wat Mani Chonlakhan
The monastery was originally called Wat Ko Kaeo because it was located on a small island. Interesting to see are, Chedi Luang Pho Saeng, the ubosot, the wihara and the large Buddha image along the river.

Lop Buri Zoo
This 25-acre enclave is near Sa Kaeo circle. The zoo includes favourite Asian and Australian birds and mammals. The most unusual spectacle is that of three tigers and four dogs living in unique harmony and the love story of a couple of orangutans.

Wat Khao Wongkot
Located at the foot of Sanam Daeng Mountain, this temple is noted for a large bat cave where bats fly out around 6.00 p.m.in great numbers to seek food. The temple derives income from bats' droppings.

Kraison Siharat Hall or Phra Thinang Yen
Located on an island in a dried up lake, Thale Chupson, formerly supplied drinking water to Lop Buri residents. This hall was built and used as a residence of King Narai, Jesuits and Louis XIV's envoys to witness a lunar eclipse on 11 December, 1685.

Wat Yang Na Rangsi
This temple is located by the Lop Buri River, 9 kms. South of the town centre on the Lop Buri-Bang Pahan route. The four Buddha images made of sandstone and quartz in the temple could have been built during the Lawo period. The old wooden teaching hall was built in 1927 in a typical style of the rural central region. After the restoration in 1998, it was turned into a local boat museum. A collection of local boats and oars in various types are displayed, particularly a rare one-seat barge, which plied local waterways in the old days.

Wat Lai
This Ayutthaya period temple is located on the bank of the Bang Kham River, Amphoe Tha Wung, some 24 kms. from the town. It is noted for a chapel decorated with stucco in various motifs, depicting Lord Buddha's previous life story and the first sermon. The exquisite craftmanship makes this a masterpiece of Thai sculpture.

Sunflower Field
Some 45 kms. from the town, Thailand's largest sunflower plantation in Amphoe Phatthana Nikhom attracts all passersby when the flowers are in full bloom from November to January.

Nam Tok Wang Kan Luang
This 10-tiered waterfall is about 12 kms. from the Lam Narai Market, Amphoe Chai Badan via Route No. 2089. Thanks to a nearby underground water source, a flow of water is visible all year round.

Festivals & Events:
King Narai Reign Fair
The fair celebrates the reign of King Narai the Great, the Ayutthaya monarch best known for his promotion of diplomatic relations with European powers during the mid-1600s. The fair is largely staged at King Narai's Palace, and features homage-paying ceremonies, colorful processions, a light & sound presentation, folk entertainment and native bazaars.

Chinese Banquet Party for monkeys
Over 2,000 monkeys enjoyed a delectable vegetarian Chinese-style banquet, replete with Thai fruits and popular desserts, at the city's Prang Sam Yod and Phra Kan Shrine. The banquet will be staged at 10.00 AM., 12.00 noon and 02.00 PM.. Special gifts, including mirrors and toys, will be presented to monkeys, who lend both structures much of their colour and atmosphere.

Getting there:
By Bus
Both air-conditioned buses and non air-conditioned buses leave the Northern Bus Terminal (Mor chit 2) for Lop Buri every 15 minutes from 05.30 A.M. until 08.30 P.M. everyday.

By Car
Traveling by car from Bangkok to Lopburi is most convenient, there are three routes to choose depending on the starting point in Bangkok. Description of each route is as
follow :

First route: Taking Highway No.1 (Phaholyothin Rd.) for 153 kms. via Saraburi.

Second route: Taking Highway No.1 (Phaholyothin Rd.) till Bang Pa-In District, turns left along Highway No.32 ( Asia Rd.) via Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya and turn right at Angthong Interchange to Angthong-Lop Buri Rd. for 2 hrs.

Third route: Taking Highway No.1 (Phaholyothin Rd.) via Phranakhon Sri Ayutthaya, Angthong and turn right to Highway No.311 (Singburi-Lopburi Rd.) at Singburi
Interchange.

By Train
Trains leave the Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) for Lopburi many times daily. Call 233-7010,233-7020 for further information.

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