Lopburi province facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lopburi
ลพบุรี
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 .jpg)   (Clockwise from top left) Ridge of Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, Lopburi sunflower fields, Ban Pa Wai railway station, King Narai's Palace, Phra Prang Sam Yot
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| Nickname(s):
Lavo
Mueang Ling (city of monkeys) |
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Map of Thailand highlighting Lop Buri province
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| Country | Thailand | ||
| Capital | Lopburi | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 6,200 km2 (2,400 sq mi) | ||
| Area rank | Ranked 36th | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 758,733 | ||
| • Rank | Ranked 32nd | ||
| • Density | 122/km2 (320/sq mi) | ||
| • Density rank | Ranked 40th | ||
| Human Achievement Index | |||
| • HAI (2017) | 0.5797 "average" Ranked 44th |
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| Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) | ||
| Postal code |
15xxx
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| Calling code | 036 | ||
| ISO 3166 code | TH-16 | ||
| Vehicle registration | ลพบุรี | ||
Lopburi (Thai: ลพบุรี) is a province in the central part of Thailand. It is divided into 11 areas called districts. The main city and capital of the province is Mueang Lopburi district.
Lopburi is home to over 750,000 people. It is the 36th largest province in Thailand by size. It is also the 32nd most populated. Lopburi shares borders with eight other provinces. These include Phetchabun and Saraburi.
Lopburi has a very rich history. Many old buildings, tools, and signs of ancient settlements have been found here. In the past, Lopburi was known as Lavo. This name came from a city called Lavapuri (now Lahore) in South Asia.
Contents
- What's in a Name? The Meaning of Lopburi
- Lopburi's Journey Through Time
- Exploring Lopburi's Landscape
- Lopburi's Weather: A Tropical Climate
- Symbols of Lopburi Province
- How Lopburi is Governed
- Getting Around Lopburi
- Healthcare in Lopburi
- Learning in Lopburi
- Fun Events and Festivals in Lopburi
- See also
What's in a Name? The Meaning of Lopburi
The name Lopburi comes from its older name, Lavo or Lavapura. This means "city of Lava". Lava was a character from an ancient story. The name connects Lopburi to the old city of Lavapuri in Pakistan.
Lopburi's Journey Through Time
Lopburi, once called Lavo, has a history that goes back to prehistoric times. It was the capital of an ancient kingdom of the Mon people. This was during the Dvaravati period, from the 6th to 11th centuries.
Later, the Khmer Empire took control. They built many amazing temples in the city. For a while, Lopburi might have been independent. It even sent its own representatives to China in 1115 and 1155.
Eventually, Lopburi became part of the Thai kingdoms. First, it joined the Sukhothai Kingdom. Then, it became part of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
During the Ayutthaya period, King Ramathibodi I sent Prince Ramesuan to rule Lopburi. In 1666, King Narai the Great built a new palace in Lopburi. He made Lopburi the country's second capital. This was because the main capital, Ayutthaya, was being threatened by the Dutch.
After King Narai passed away, the city was mostly left empty. Many buildings fell into ruin. In 1856, King Mongkut of the Chakri family ordered King Narai's palace to be fixed up.
Lopburi became important again in 1937. Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram chose it to be Thailand's biggest military base. He even thought about making it the new capital after World War II.
Exploring Lopburi's Landscape
Lopburi is located on the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River valley. It sits between the Lopburi River and Pa Sak Rivers. About 30% of the province is a very flat plain. This includes parts of Tha Wung district and Mueang Lopburi.
The other 70% of the province has a mix of flat land and hills. The Phetchabun Mountains form the eastern border. These mountains separate Lopburi from the Khorat Plateau. About 14.8% of the province is covered by forests.
Wildlife Sanctuary in Lopburi
Lopburi is home to one special place for animals. It is called the Sap Langka Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary covers about 155 square kilometers. It helps protect many different kinds of wildlife.
Lopburi's Weather: A Tropical Climate
Lopburi province has a tropical savanna climate. This means it has dry, warm winters. Temperatures usually get hotter until May. The monsoon season runs from May to October. During this time, there is heavy rain. Days are a bit cooler, but nights stay warm.
The highest temperature recorded was 41.4 °C (106.5 °F) in April. The lowest was 10.2 °C (50.4 °F) in December. On average, the highest temperature is 36.8 °C (98.2 °F). The lowest average is 20.6 °C (69.1 °F). Lopburi gets about 1,125 millimeters of rain each year. The rainiest month is September.
Symbols of Lopburi Province
The official symbol of Lopburi province is called the provincial seal. It shows the god Vishnu in front of the Khmer temple Phra Prang Sam Yod.
The shield of Lopburi shows King Narai. Behind him is Phra Prang Sam Yod, which means "Sanctuary with the Three Towers." This refers to King Narai. In 1664, he made the city stronger. He wanted it to be a backup capital if Ayutthaya was in danger.
The provincial tree and flower is the bullet wood.
Lopburi's slogan is: National treasures of King Narai's palace and Phra Kan Shrine, famous Prang Sam Yot, city of Din So Phong Marl, well-known Pa Sak Cholasit Dam and golden land of King Narai the Great.
How Lopburi is Governed
Lopburi province is divided into 11 main areas called districts (amphoe). These districts are further split into smaller areas. There are 122 sub-districts (tambon) and 1,126 villages (muban).
- Mueang Lopburi
- Phatthana Nikhom
- Khok Samrong
- Chai Badan
- Tha Wung
- Ban Mi
- Tha Luang
- Sa Bot
- Khok Charoen
- Lam Sonthi
- Nong Muang
Getting Around Lopburi
By Train
Lopburi railway station is a stop on Thailand's Northern Line. It is the last stop for trains that serve the area around Bangkok.
By Road
The main road in Lopburi is Route 1, also known as Phahonyothin Road. This road starts in Bangkok and goes through Lopburi. It continues north to the border with Burma. Other roads connect Lopburi to nearby provinces like Sing Buri and Ang Thong.
By Air
There is an air force base called Khok Kathiam Air Force Base. It is about 9 kilometers north of the town. This base does not have flights for regular passengers.
Healthcare in Lopburi
The main hospital in Lopburi is King Narai Hospital. It is managed by the Ministry of Public Health.
Learning in Lopburi
Lopburi has several places for higher education:
- Thepsatri Rajabhat University
- Kasetsart University, Lopburi Campus
- Ramkhamhaeng University, Lopburi Campus
- Pibul Wittayalai School
Fun Events and Festivals in Lopburi
Lopburi hosts exciting events and festivals each year:
- King Narai Reign Fair (งานแผ่นดินสมเด็จพระนารายณ์): This is the biggest fair in the province. It happens every year to honor King Narai the Great. He once lived in Lopburi. A special part of the fair is that everyone in Lopburi dresses in traditional Thai clothes. There is also a cool sound and light show at King Narai's Palace in the evening.
- Monkey Buffet Festival (เทศกาลโต๊ะจีนลิง): This unique festival happens every November. It's a huge buffet for the many macaques (monkeys) that live near the ancient Khmer temple, Phra Prang Sam Yot. These monkeys are like a symbol of the province. The first festival was held in 1989.
- Climbing Up Khao Wong Phra Chan Festival (ประเพณีขึ้นเขาวงพระจันทร์): This is a special journey where people climb 3,790 steps up Khao Wong Phrachan. This hill is the highest in the province. People climb to honor a replica of the Lord Buddha's footprint and Buddha statues at the top. This festival is usually held around Chinese New Year. It is very popular, especially with Thai people who have Chinese family.
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Lopburi para niños
