The historic city of Lopburi, nicknamed the “Monkey City” for its considerable population of macaques sharing the city with locals, is one of Thailand’s unique destinations that offer a blend of old and new.
Things to do in Lop Buri
Lopburi is well-known for its unique heritage sites including the Ban Vichayen ruins in the Old City, where you can spend a day sightseeing and exploring the local culture. King Narai’s Palace is another popular place and has its own museum with various ancient relics and artefacts.
It will be difficult for you to miss the crab-eating macaques that inhabit the centre of the city, mostly congregating around the Prang Sam Yot temple. Be sure to visit during the famous Monkey Buffet Festival in November where the locals gift the monkeys with fruits and vegetable, a spectacle you’re unlikely to see anywhere else.
Getting around Lop Buri
Within Lopburi, you can make your way around by motorcycle taxi or on a larger songthaew, a local form of taxi. It’s possible to reach Lopburi by bus from cities and towns in the vicinity, while from Bangkok you can catch a private van which makes the journey in less than three hours.