Lopburi Facts for Kids

This page is about the town Lopburi, Thailand. For other uses, see Lopburi (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Lopburi ลพบุรี Lavo
Town Municipality
San Phra Kan shrine, downtown Lopburi
Nickname(s): Monkey City
Lopburi Location in Thailand
Country	Thailand
Province	Lopburi Province
District	Amphoe Mueang Lopburi
Elevation	19 m (62 ft)
Population
• Total	58,000
Time zone	UTC+7 (ICT)

Lopburi (Thai: ลพบุรี, pronounced Lop Buri) is an important city in Thailand. It is the capital of Lopburi Province. The city is located about 150 kilometers (93 miles) northeast of Bangkok, Thailand's capital.

Lopburi has a population of about 58,000 people. It is known as a thesaban mueang, which means it is a town municipality. The city covers an area of 6.85 square kilometers (2.64 square miles).

A Glimpse into Lopburi's Past
Discovering Ancient Finds
Lopburi's Natural Surroundings
Lopburi's Weather
Getting Around Lopburi
- Roads
- Trains
- Air Travel
Lopburi's Famous Monkeys
Notable People from Lopburi
Images for kids
See also

A Glimpse into Lopburi's Past

Lopburi has a very long history, going back over 1,000 years. It was once part of the ancient Dvaravati period. The city was originally called Lavapura.

The Ancient Lavo Kingdom

According to old stories, a ruler named Phraya Kalavarnadishraj founded the Lavo Kingdom in 648 CE. This was a long time ago! Lopburi became a very important place in the Chao Phraya River area. Many people living there were from the Mon group.

Lopburi and the Khmer Empire

Later, Lopburi became part of the powerful Khmer Empire. This happened during the time of King Suryavarman I. Being in control of Lopburi helped the Khmer Empire trade goods through the Kra Isthmus. There is also evidence that the Khmer Empire, under King Suryavarman II, fought against the Mon people in the 12th century.

Lopburi as a Capital City

After the Ayutthaya Kingdom was formed in the 14th century, Lopburi became a strong base for its rulers. In the mid-17th century, King Narai the Great made Lopburi the capital of his kingdom. He even lived there for about eight months each year!

Discovering Ancient Finds

Many interesting things have been found in and around Lopburi that tell us about its past.

In 1931, stone tools from the Stone Age were found in the Ban Mi District.
In 1964, tools, burial sites, and bronze items from the Iron Age were discovered near the Lopburi River.
Bracelets and beads, dating back 2,700 to 3,500 years, were found at Ban Khok Charoen between 1966 and 1970.
In 1979, ancient human skeletons and clay pots were uncovered in Ban Tha Kae.
A source of copper was found in Khao Wong Phrachan between 1986 and 1994.

Lopburi's Natural Surroundings

Lopburi is located on the Lopburi River. It is mostly surrounded by flat plains formed by rivers. However, some hills rise to between 300 and 600 meters (980 and 2,000 feet) in the northeast.

Lopburi's Weather

Lopburi has a tropical savanna climate. This means it has dry, very warm winters. Temperatures usually go up until April, which is the hottest month. The average daily high in April is about 36.8°C (98.2°F).

The monsoon season starts in late April and lasts until October. During this time, there is a lot of rain. The temperatures during the day are a bit cooler, but the nights stay warm.

Getting Around Lopburi

Lopburi has good transportation links.

Roads

The main road is Route 1, also known as Phahonyothin Road. This road starts in Bangkok and goes through Lopburi, continuing north to the border with Burma. Other roads connect Lopburi to nearby towns like Sing Buri and Ang Thong.

Trains

Lopburi is a stop on the State Railway of Thailand's Northern Line. You can take a train from Bangkok railway station (Hua Lamphong) to Lopburi, which usually takes about 2 hours. It's a fun and inexpensive way to see the local culture!

Air Travel

The Khok Kathiam Air Force Base is located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) northeast of the town.

Lopburi's Famous Monkeys

Today, Lopburi is most famous for the thousands of crab-eating macaques that live right in the middle of the city! You can often see them around the old Khmer temple, Prang Sam Yot, and a shrine called Sarn Phra Karn.

It is thought that as the city grew, the monkeys learned to live alongside people. Local people often feed them, especially during the exciting Monkey Buffet Festival. This festival usually happens on the last Sunday of November.

The monkeys can be quite bold and are not afraid of humans. They might try to take food or items from visitors who are not careful. Many hotels and guesthouses in Lopburi have special screens or keep windows shut to keep the monkeys out.

To help manage the monkeys, signs in the city say that officers feed them in three special areas outside San Phrakan twice a day, at 10 AM and 4 PM. If you want to feed the monkeys at other times, you should ask an officer or caretaker.

During the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic, there were fewer tourists. This meant the monkeys had less food, and they sometimes bothered local residents because they were hungry.