Lopburi is a city in Thailand, capital of the Lopburi province. The city is located about 150km north-east of Bangkok, at . Population 54,000.

The city has a long history, dating back into the Dvaravati period more than 1000 years ago, then known as Lavo. When the Khmer empire incorporated it they destroyed all former buildings, thus the oldest ruins which can now be found in Lopburi are Khmer temple. It later became part of the Thai kingdoms, and during the reign of king Narai the Great of the Ayutthaya kingdom in the middle of the 17th century Lopburi even served as the second capital, as another summer palace, King Narai's Palace(Thai พระนารายณ์ราชนิเวศ) of King Narai. He stays in Lopburi around 8 months a year.

Today the city is most famous because of its monkeys. Especially around the Khmer temple Prang Sam Yot and a Khmer shrine(Sarn Phra Karn), that hundreds of Crab-Eating Macaques (Macaca fascicularis) live in the middle of the city. Especially during the Monkey festival in November they are fed by the local people. Because the are not scared of humans, they steal whatever food they can find from unwary diners.

Originally a Hindu shrine, the Prangs represent Bhrama, Vishu, and Shiva (the Hindu trinity). It was later converted to a Buddhist shrine.

External links

• Central Thailand / Lopburi / Phra Prang Sam Yot

Hindu temples in Thailand | Cities in Thailand

Lopburi | Lopburi | Lopburi (stad) | ロッブリー | Lopburi