Lop Buri
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Lop Buri General Information
A province in the central region of Thailand, Lop Buri Province is located approximately 154 kilometers north of Bangkok. Covering an area of 6,199 square kilometers, the province is situated on the western end of the Khorat Plateau. It borders Chaiyaphum and Nakhon Ratchasima Provinces on the east, Phetchabun and Nakhon Sawan Provinces on the north, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya and Saraburi Provinces on the South. Lop Buri Province is one of several provinces in central Thailand where many significant historical artifacts and prehistoric settlements have been discovered.
Formerly known as Lawo, Lop Buri had for centuries been ruled by several Kingdoms. The remains of Lop Buri, dating over 1,200 years attests to the strategic significance of Lop Buri to many rulers. These relics, ranging from the Bronze Age to the Ratanakosin period, have made Lop Buri a blend of east and west and ancient and modern, revealing the citys turbulent and alluring history and a glimpse of Thailands extraordinary past.
The Past
Lop Buri was first developed into a major town during the Dvaravati Kingdom (6th 11th centuries). Most historians believed the first settlers of the town were the Lawa (an ethnic group related to the Mons) which is the reason for naming the town Lawo. In 10th century, the town came under absolute sovereignty of the Khmers who made it one of their oldest provincial capitals. The Khmer Mahayana Buddhism style was a major influence on the towns architecture and was later commonly referred to as Lop Buri Style. Remains of KhmerHindu architectural motifs found in the city include the Shivas Shrine (Prang Khaek), San Phra Kan, Phra Prang Sam Yot, and Wat Phra Si Mahathat.
It was in the late 13th century when the Thais, who migrated from the North, fought against the Khmers and declared their independence. Since then, Lop Buri has been ruled by Thai Kings.
Lop Buri first became known when King U-Tong, who established the Ayutthaya Kingdom, sent his son, Ramesuan the Crown Prince, to govern the city. The Prince commanded the building of moats, city walls and battlement towers.
Lop Buri reached its height in 1664 when King Narai the Great of Ayutthaya named Lop Buri the Kingdoms second capital, which came after a threat of invasion from Hollanders. King Narai the Great rebuilt Lop Buri with the help of French architects and ruled the Kingdom from there, instead of Ayutthaya., Thus the citys architecture mostly reflected a mixture of Thai and Western styles, which can be seen today in the remains of the Royal Palace, the Royal Reception House etc.
Lop Buri gradually faded from the political scene with the death of King Narai the Great. It, however, made a comeback approximately 200 years later when King Rama IV of the Ratanakosin Era decided to restore the city. He also commanded the restoration of the old Palace and named it Phra Narai Ratchaniwet (Narai Ratchaniwet Palace) in honor of King Narai the Great.
After Thailands democratic revolution, Marshall Poh Pibulsongkram rebuilt a military camp near the citys railroad, therefore, dividing the city into the old (ancient) and new zone.
The Present
Today, Lop Buri is administratively divided into 11 Amphoes (Districts) including Muang, Ban Mi, Chai Badan, Khok Charoen, Khok Samrong, Phatthana Nikhom, Tha Luang, Tha Wung, Sa Bot, Lam Sonthi and Nong Muang.
Apart from historical attractions, Lop Buri provides opportunities for nature lovers to visit its famous Sap langka Wildlife Sanctuary in the north.
Another special landmark of Lop Buri is monkeys. To tourists, the city is known as the land of monkeys. To the people of Lop Buri, the monkeys are descendants of Hanuman who, according to the Ramayana, built Lop Buri as his kingdom. The food offerings in San Phra Kan drew the monkeys from nearby forests. These mischievous monkeys have taken over several attractions such as San Phra Kan and Phra Prang Sam Yot. A big feast for the monkeys on the last Sunday of November is held annually at Phra Prang Sam Yot and is one of the most attractive and most talked about tourist events in Thailand.
Lop Buri Festival Information
- 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.
Lop Buri Attactions Information
- Wat Khao Wongkhot (Bat Cave)
Covering an area of 30 rai, Wat Khao Wongkhot is situated approximately 4 kilometers from Ban Mi city. The temple is built in the middle of three mountains with the Reclining Buddha enshrined at the foot of Sanam Daeng Mountain. Visitors are encouraged to stop at a pavilion which keeps the un-deteriorated body of Charoen Ditsawanno venerable Bhikku, former abbot of Wat Khao Wongkot who passed away in 1963.
Within the compound of Wat Khao Wongkhot is a bat cave which is considered to be the largest in Lop Buri. With millions of bats inhabiting the cave, the temple receives substantial revenues from the sale of bat dung. The bats will fly out of the cave at 6 p.m. to seek food. It takes up to 2 hours to empty the cave.
- Wat Thammikaram
The canal side temple located on the west bank of Bang Kham canal, Wat Thammikaram was formerly known as Wat Khang Khao (Bat Temple). This was due to the fact that many thousands of bats used to live there. Visitors to this temple usually marvel at its notable murals which can be dated from the mid 1800s.
- Wat Khao Somphot
This temple is located 38 kilometers from Chai Badan District. There are 19 caves naturally decorated with stalactites and stalagmites in the environs of the mountainous temple. Recommended caves to visit include Tham Yai, Tham Chedi, Tham Phet, Tham Ram Wong, Tham Singto, and etc.
- Sap Langka Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in Kut Ta Phet Sub-district, Sap langka Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 155 square kilometers or 96,875 rai of land. A flatland amidst a valley, the Sanctuary is 140-846 meters above sea level. This virgin and fertile jungle is where Maenam Lam Sonthi originates and where the nearly-extinct animals dwell.
There are two natural trekking trails which are easy to follow. The first is from Haui Prik to Tham (cave) Pha Pheung (a 3,200-meter trip with a total travel time of approximately 2.5 hours). The second is Haui Pradu trail which starts with a rafting trip to the 1,500-meter trail along Tham Samui Kui and Tham Phra Nok.
- Lop Buri Zoo
A 25-acre zoo is well known for its interesting residents: Asian and Australian birds and mammals. The most striking feature of the zoo is the unusual family of three tigers and four dogs who live harmoniously together in the same quarters. The zoo is located behind the Army Theatre near the Sa Kaew Circle. Opens daily from 8.00 a.m. 6.00 p.m.
- Oasis Agro-Farm
An agro-tourism farm covering an area of 50 rai, Oasis Agro-Farm was established in 2001 to raise imported ostriches from South Africa. The farm is divided into different zones including a butterfly farm, an ostrich ranch, a sunflower plantation, etc. Visitors can enjoy hand-feeding the ostriches and driving a mini-tractor along the sunflower plantation. Admission fee is 10 bahts/person. For more information, contact Mr. Somchat Singhapol at 01 7808928 or 01 9941256 or you can visit www.oasisfarm.net to get a glimpse of the farm.
- Phra Narai Ratchaniwet (King Narais Palace)
The palace was built in 1665 and 1677, when King Narai the Great decided to make Lop Buri the second capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Although the buildings were designed by with the contributions of French architects, the Khmer influence was still strong. The Palace was a perfect blend of the both world, an awesome mixture of Khmer-European styles.
After the death of King Narai the Great in 1688, the palace was deserted. It was not until the reign of King Rama IV during the Ratanakosin era, that the Palace was restored and renamed Narai Ratchaniwet.
The Palace is located in the town center, between Ratchadamnoen Road and Pratu Chai Road. The whole complex has been turned into the Lop Buri National Museum (commonly known as King Narai National Museum).
The Palace can be accessed through the Pratu Phayakkha, which is currently a town park, located off Sorasak Road. The Palace opens Wednesdays through Sundays from 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Within the Palace lies a number of compounds containing pavilions, some built during the reign of King Narai and others constructed during the reign of King Rama IV.
- Chantara Phaisan Pavilion
The first Palace of King Narai the Great in Lop Buri, the Pavilion was subsequently turned into an audience hall after he moved his residence to the Suttha Sawan Pavilion. The fact that the building is of pure Thai architectural style indicates that no French architects were involved in the design and construction process. King Rama IV (King Mongkut of the Ratanakosin era) restored the building in 1863. The Pavilion was once used by the privy-council as a meeting hall. Now, it serves as a hall displaying archaeological and art objects, especially the Lop Buri-style stone Buddha images, historic paintings from the era of King Narai the Great and Buddhist art objects from the Ayutthaya and Ratanakosin period.
- The Dusit Sawan Thanya Maha Prasat Hall
Constructed under the royal command of King Narai the Great, the Hall was formerly used by King Narai as an audience hall receiving high-ranking foreign ambassadors. This was the place where the King received Chevalier de Chaumont, the representative of King Louis XIV of France. The Hall was built in a perfect blending of French and Thai architectural styles.
- Kraison Siharat Hall
Commonly known as Phra Thinang Yen, the Hall is located on an island in a dried up lake, Thale Chupson, which once supplied fresh drinking water to the people of Lop Buri. Kraison Siharat Hall was used as the residence of King Narai, Jesuits and envoys of King Louis XIV of France when they came to witness a lunar eclipse on 11 December, 1685
- Phra Chao Hao Building
Built by King Narai the Great, the building is located to the south of the outer section of the palace. Serving as the Kings private audience hall, the building featured Thai-style architecture of which it is currently possible to see only the remains of wall sections with visible decorative motifs at the doors and windows.
- Phiman Mongkut Pavilion
This pavilion was a three-story brick building where King Rama IV (King Mongkut) resided when he visited Lop Buri during the renovation of the Palace. Connected to the pavilion are three other buildings namely Suttha Winitchai Pavilion, Chai Sattrakon Pavilion and Akson Sattrakhom. All of these buildings are now being used as the offices of the Lop Buri National Museum.
- Phra Prang Sam Yot
Located on Vichayen Road, approximately 200 meters from the railway station, Phra Prang Sam Yot is Lop Buris best known landmark and provincial symbol. A former Hindu Shrine built in the 13th century in the classic Bayon style of Khmer architecture, the compound comprises three prangs (towers) linked by a corridor. The three laterite and sandstone spires decorated with classic stucco are believed to have originally represented the Hindu Trimurti; Brahman (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Siva (the destroyer). During the reign of King Narai, the shrine was converted into a Buddhist temple when a brick viharn located to the east which houses a grand U-Thong-Ayutthaya style Buddha image was probably built. Buddha images were later added to the two prangs. The temple is open at 8.00 a.m. until 6.00 p.m., admission fee is 30 baht.
- Wat Phra Si Maha That
The oldest temple with tallest Prang in Lop Buri, Wat Phra Si Maha That is located behind the railway station near the San Phra Kan. The Lop-Buri style prang in front of the temple was built around 1157 when the town came under Khmer rule. The U-Thong style Buddha images on the prang and the large viharn were later added by King Narai the Great. The laterite prang still has some original lintels and stucco work intact. A number of other chedis and prangs - most of which were restored were greatly influenced by both the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya styles.
- Wat Yang Na Rangsi (Lop Buri Boat Museum)
Located on the bank of the Lop Buri River, 9 kilometers south of the town center along the Lop Buri-Bang Pahan route is Wat Yang Na Rangsi. The temple is famous for its Buddha images which were made of sandstone and quartz. It is also notable for its wooden sala (a wooden teaching hall) which was built in 1927 in a typical central region style. The sala has been converted into the Lop Buri Boat Museum, where a large collection of local vessels, in particular a one-seat barge, are exhibited.
- Bee Farm
Location: Soi 24 Sai Tri, Mo 9 Phatthana Nikhom District, Lop Buri 15220
The center distributes information and knowledge on Bee cultivation in Thailand. It is also a place where natural bees products including royal jelly, honey (from sunflower, natural honey extracts, etc.) and other honey-related products are on sale.
- Khuen Pa Sak Cholasit
The biggest reservoir in Central Thailand, the Pa Sak Cholasit Dam was constructed as part of the Maenam Pa Sak Royal Development Project, an initiative of King Bhumibol. Constructed in 1989, the earth (soil)-filled dam with a clay core was granted the name by His Majesty the King who presided over its opening on 25 November 1999. The Dam stretches over Lop Buri and Saraburi Provinces. It is 4,860 meters long with a capacity of 785 million cubic meters.
Pa Sak Cholasit Dam is a major source of water for household, agriculture and industrial use in Lop Buri and Saraburi Provinces. Moreover, it helps prevent flooding on the Pasak riverside and Bangkok and its outskirts. The dam also provides large-scale, fresh-water fish for locals.
An emerging tourist attraction, Pa Sak Cholasit Dam offers a unique opportunity to travel across the reservoir by train. The railway was constructed along the dams ridge which leads to Pa Sak Basin Museum and a scenic lookout point above the dam. The journey offers a breathtaking and refreshing view of the reservoir, and also a bed of sunflowers.
- Sunflower Field
The largest sunflower field in Thailand is located in Tambon Chong Sarika, Phatthana Nikom District. The panoramic sunflower field has become Lop Buri's major tourist attraction especially during November to January when they are in full bloom. To travel from Bangkok, drive along the Lop Buri-Saraburi Road for approximately 30 kilometers, then turn left into Highway No. 21 and proceed for another 15 kilometers. Traveling from Lop Buri town center, the sunflower field is located approximately 45 kilometers from the town.
**Information Reference : tourismthailand.org
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