Lopburi is the capital city of the same named province in Central Thailand about 150 km north of Bangkok. Lopburi is the city influenced by Khmers and a number of Khmer temple ruins still exist in the city. Nowadays the city is famous for its large monkey population. You can find many of them staying around Prang Sam Yot Khmer temple or just hanging around the streets of Lopburi.
Attractions in Lopburi
Khmer temple ruins
Lopburi is one of Thailand's oldest cities, as it was developed during from 6th to 10th centuries. The ruins that can be seen in the city today are the architecture of the Khmer and Ayutthaya empires. For some time Lopburi was the second capital of Ayutthaya empire. The influence of Khmers is well noticed in the city as a number of Khmer temple ruins still exist here.
The most famous landmark of Lopburi is Phra Prang Sam Yot, ruins of a typical Khmer-style temple with three huge prangs.
Other remains of Khmer empire in Lopburi are:
Prang Khaek shrine - the oldest monument in Lopburi and the oldest Khmer-style Hindu Shrine in Central Thailand.
San Phra Kan shrine – a Brahman shrine, containing a four-armed Hindu god Vishnu image which is a very important object of worship here. The shrine is located just next to Phra Prang Sam Yot temple.
Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat - a large Royal temple in the center of Lopburi, just near the railway station.
Monkeys of Lopburi
Another famous attraction of Lopburi is its large population of monkeys. Most of them are staying at Khmer temples Phra Prang Sam Yot and San Phra Kan but you will meet plenty of them just hanging around the streets of Lopburi. These monkeys are extremely cheeky so you should take care of your belongings when they are around. Mostly they are looking for food but you can never be sure if some curious buddy won’t get interested in your phone or camera.
Monkeys are the main tourist attraction in Lopburi and the town shows appreciation to them by putting on a Monkey Buffet Festival. A huge buffet of 4 tons of fruits, vegetables and other treats is laid out for the monkeys around Phra Prang Sam Yod on the last Sunday in November every year.
Where to Stay in Lopburi
The best place to stay in Lopburi is the center of the city. For places to stay in Lopburi check Hotels in Lopburi on Booking.com or Hotels in Lopburi on Agoda.com.
How to get to Lopburi?
You can reach Lopburi by train or by bus.
Train to Lopburi
Taking northern line train Bangkok-Chiang Mai from Hua Lamphong Railway Station to Lopburi can be the easiest and cheapest option for reaching Lopburi from Bangkok. You can just make a half-day stopover here and then continue your journey to Sukhothai or Chiang Mai. Depending on the type of train, the trip from Bangkok to Lopburi takes around two to three hours. Train tickets can be booked here:
Buses to Lopburi
Taking a bus or a minivan from Bangkok’s Northern bus terminal (Mo Chit) is another cheap option for reaching Lopburi. It takes about 3 hours with a bus and a bit less with a minivan. Minivans leave from Mochit Van Terminal. Minivan tickets can be booked here:
Minivan from Bangkok to Lopburi
Weather in Lopburi
In Lopburi the seasons are clearly defined. Between November and May the weather is mostly dry with little rain expected throughout the region for much of this time. The dry season in Lopburi is broken up into the periods of cool season (November to February) and hot season (March to May), when it is not unusual for the temperature in Lopburi to reach even 40°C.
The wet season in Lopburi is from May to November. The rain usually comes in the form of short showers, lasting an hour or two. As the rainy season progresses, the rain can become heavier and more constant, traditionally reaching peak levels in August and September.
For the best time to visit Lopburi check our Central Thailand weather ratings chart.
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| ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
After visiting Lopburi you are planning to continue your trip up north or down south? Check when is the best time to visit Thailand's other destinations and choose destination with the best possible weather conditions wisely.