FESTIVALS
King Narai Reign Fair
This fair commemorates the reign of King Narai the Great, the Ayutthayan monarch best known for his promotion of diplomatic relations with European powers during the mid-1600s. The fair is centred at King Narai’s Palace and features processions, a light and sound presentation, folk entertainment and sales of local products.
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Welcome to Lop Buri
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand
General
Lop Buri, formerly known as “ Lawo”, was one of the important ancient towns of the Khmers from the10th-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.
Lop Buri is 153 kms. north of Bangkok. It covers an area of 6,199 square kilometers and is administratively divided into 11 districts (Amphoes): Muang Lop Buri, Ban Mi, Chai Badan, Khok Charoen, Khok Samrong, Phatthana Nikhom, Tha Luang, Tha Wung, Sa Bot, Lam Sonthi, and Nong Muang.
Attractions
Banquet Hall
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.
Chanthon Phisan Pavilion
Chanthon 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 and art objects. Many Lop Buri style stone Buddha images are kept in the building.
Dusit Sawan Thanya Maha Prasat Hall
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.
Elephant and Horse Stables
Elephant and Horse Stables located close to the wall separating the outer section of the palace from the middle section.
Kraison Siharat Hall
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
Lop Buri Zoo
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 urang-utans.
Narai Ratchaniwet Palace
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.
Phiman Mongkut Pavilion
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 Winitchai Pavilion , Chai Sattrakon Pavilion and Akson Sattrakhom. All of these buildings are now used as the offices of the Lop Buri National Museum.
Phra Chao Hao Building
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.
Phra Khlang Supharat
Phra Khlang Supharat commonly known as the twelve treasure houses, stored the royal treasures as well as royal goods for selling to foreign merchants.
Phra Prang Sam Yot
Phra Prang Sam Yot This former Hindu shrine is some 200 metres from the railway station and is Lop Buri's best known landmark. The laterite and sandstone structure was constructed in the Lop Buri style and decorated with stucco. The three 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.
Prang Khaek
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.
San Phra Kan
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 worshipped four-armed deity figure with a Buddha image's head. The monkeys living in the compound sometimes cause mischief when approached.
Statue of King Narai the Great
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 terra-cotta 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.
Suttha Sawan Pavilion
Suttha Sawan Pavilion This residence is where King Narai died on 11 July, 1688, while the palace was under the control of royal 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 were displayed.
Vichayen House
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 killed 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.
Transportation
Bus
Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses leave Mochit 2 Bus Terminal to Lop Buri many times a day. Call 0 2936 2852-66 for more information.
Car
a) From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 passing Saraburi to Lop Buri, a total distance of 153 kilometres.
b) From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 32 to Ayutthaya and travel further along Highway No. 347 to Lop Buri via Amphoe Tha Ruea.
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