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 For
most visitors, Lopburi holds that unique charm of combining the old with
the new with some ancient brick ruins set amidst the not so ancient
shops, hotels, and restaurants.
Lopburi is one of the few cities in Thailand that actually feels as old
as it really is since its establishment in the Dvaravati period in the
6th and 11th centuries AD,. Tourists on walking tours find that not only
are they treated to that pervading sense of the town’s history but also
an occasional glimpse of the playful antics of troops of monkeys that
wander round the sights.
The historical sites in Lopburi can be visited on foot in a day or two
and are sometimes done as a day trip from Ayuthaya (Bangkok).
Sights
1. Pha Narai Ratchaniwet
 The
former palace of King Narai, he Pha Narai Ratchaniwet is located just
opposite the Asia Lopburi Hotel and is considered to be a good starting
point for a tour of Lopburi. Built between 1665 and 1677, it was
designed by French and Khmer architects, creating an unusual blend of
styles. Inside the grounds is the Lopburi National Museum which
showcases an excellent collection of sculptures and artifacts from the
many different periods of Lopburi history, as well as an assortment of
Khmer, Dvaravati, U Thong and Ayuthaya art, traditional farm implements
and dioramas of farm life.
2. Prang Sam Yot (Sacred Three Spires)
 Located
opposite the San Phra Kan, near the Muang Thong Hotel, Prang Sam Yot is
an excellent example of classic Khmer-Lopburi style and is used as a
Hindu-turned-Buddhist temple. Originally, the three towers symbolized
the Hindu Trimurti of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Now two of them contain
ruined Lopburi Buddha images.
Also worth a visit is the Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat which is a large
12th century Khmer temple located directly across the train station.
Sleeping and Eating
The hotels on Th Na Kala, close to the train station are about the
cheapest in town and conveniently located to the ruins.
1. Indra
Just opposite Wat Nakhon Kosa, Indra has clean, spacious rooms with fan
and individual bathrooms.
2. Asia Lopburi
Overlooking Phra Narai Ratchaniwet, this hotel is clean, comfortable and
reasonably priced.
3. Taipei
North of the palace area, Taipei has clean rooms with private bathrooms
while the more-expensive fan room and all air-con rooms have their own
television sets.
There are several Chinese Restaurants parallel to the railway line, but
they tend to be a bit pricey. The places on the side streets of Th
Ratchadamnoen and Phra Yam Jamket are better value.
The central market which is situated along Th Ratchadamneon and Th
Surasongkram, just north of the palace, is a great place to pick up kai
thawt or kai yang (fried or grilled chicken ) with sticky rice for long
trip further north. In the evenings a night market sets up along Th na
Phra Kan.
How to get there
Ordinary buses leave from Ayuthaya (28B, two hours, every 10 minutes) or
from Bangkok’s Northern and Northeastern Bus Terminal (moh Chit; 562B,
Three hours, every 20 minutes); there are also less-frequent air-con
buses from Bangkok.
By train you can reach Lopburi from Bangkok (ordinary 13B, rapid and
express 28/64B in 3rd/2nd class). One way of visiting Lopburi on the way
North is to take the train from Ayuthaya (or Bangkok) early in the
morning, leave your gear at the station for the day while you look
around, then continue north on the night train.
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