Best things to do in Lopburi

Lopburi Province Essentials

Lopburi Province features a concentration of 17th-century Ayutthaya-era architecture alongside 10th-century Khmer ruins. The provincial capital centers on the remains of King Narai’s Great Palace and the Phra Kan Shrine, a focal point for the city’s large crab-eating macaque population. Beyond the urban center, the region hosts the massive Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, Thailand’s longest clay-core dam, and significant archaeological sites like Ban Pong Manao, which preserves remains from prehistoric and Iron Age settlements.

Lopburi Province Essentials — Map

Mr.Peerapong Prasutr / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Pasak Jolasit Reservoir

The Pa Sak Jolasid Dam or Pa Sak Cholasit Dam impounds the Pa Sak River at Ban Kaeng Suea Ten, Tambon Nong Bua, Phatthana Nikhom District,…

B

Prang Khaek

The oldest monument in Lopburi, consisting of three brick prangs built in the 10th-century Khmer style. Originally a Hindu shrine, it was later restored by King Narai the Great in the 17th century.

C

Phra Kan Shrine

An ancient Brahman shrine containing a four-armed Vishnu figure with a Buddha head. The site is famously inhabited by hundreds of monkeys and sits adjacent to the 13th-century Prang Sam Yot.

D

Phra Narai Rachanivet

This 17th-century palace complex blends Thai and European architectural styles. It houses the Somdet Phra Narai National Museum, which displays regional artifacts from the Dvaravati to the Ayutthaya periods.

E

Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat

A large temple complex dating back to the 12th century. It features a prominent Khmer-style prang and several later Ayutthaya-era chedis and viharas, reflecting multiple architectural layers.

F

Baan Vichayen

The 17th-century residence of Constantine Phaulkon, a Greek counselor to King Narai. The ruins showcase a unique fusion of European Renaissance architecture and traditional Thai design.

G

Lopburi Zoo

Established in 1940 and managed by the Royal Thai Army, this facility houses various native and exotic species. It is known for its proximity to the city center and its resident primates.

H

Wat Nakhon Kosa

A ruined temple site featuring a 12th-century Khmer prang and a later brick vihara. Excavations here have revealed stucco sculptures spanning the Dvaravati and Ayutthaya periods.

I

Wat Mani-Cholakhan

Notable for its unusual tall, slender white chedi built on a small island in the Lopburi River. The temple dates to the Ayutthaya period and features a distinctive square-based pagoda.

J

Phiphithphanthsthan chumchn banpong manaw

An archaeological site and community museum showcasing prehistoric human skeletons and artifacts. The site provides evidence of continuous human habitation in the region dating back over 2,500 years.