Lopburi, the city of Monkeys

Those who follow Thailandee.com since the beginning  are probably already very familiar with the town of Lopburi and its horde of monkeys (actually, there is two rival gangs) who literally invaded the city. 

Lopburi is a provincial city located 140 kilometers from Bangkok. The city became famous and welcomes many tourist because of the monkeys who took their neighborhoods in the streets and some temples. Inhabitants try to get along with them. It must be said that the primates have settled there for centuries. If in Western countries, we will probably have hunted or sterilized them to make them disappear gradually, in Thailand, the locals have learned to live with them and even organize a large buffet for the monkeys every year.

If they make life difficult for locals, they also bring them a flow of curious tourist who want to discover “the city of monkeys”. Especially grouped at Phra Prang San Yod, a charming little Khmer ruin with a lovely stone Buddha image, the monkeys are not shy and jump without hesitation on tourists to steal them food but also anything they can catch.

Most of the time visitors only stay a few hours in Lopburi, time to see the monkeys and go. But the city has more to offer. I like the atmosphere here, especially in the evening. Here you can feel the real Thailand. The Thailand with aerobics group classes in the school yard, with a small night market installing its tables along the railway, where you can have dinner at the White House under the big tree with a Thai music background and the stars above your head…

And there are other monuments to visit in Lopburi, certainly much less interesting and renovated than Ayutthaya temples, only 60 kilometers away. So if you are not in hurry, why don’t you try to stay here at least one night ?

You can find all practical information about the city, its hotels and guesthouses, the visits to make, transport ect …on our page dedicated to Lopburi in Thailand.