Things to do in Lopburi

Narai Ratchaniwet Palace

Construction of Narai Ratchaniwet Palace was commenced during the rule of foreigner-friendly King Narai of Ayutthaya in 1665 and completed 12 years later. The king used the palace as a summer retreat for up to six months of the year. Following his death, the palace was used for the coronation of his successor but then deserted until restoration works were undertaken by King Mongkut in 1863.

Although the buildings within the high-walled enclosure are ruins, the grounds are very well kept and pleasant to wander through, with remnants of elephant and horse stables, a large water reservoir and a series of halls which King Narai once used to store all his goodies all on display. At the southern end of the outer palace grounds lie the remains of what was probably an audience hall used by the monarch to greet important visitors.

Further into the enclosure you will reach the Chantara Phisan Pavilion. Originally built as the royal residence, it was transformed into another audience hall after the king moved his residence to the Suttha Sawan Pavilion in the southwest. This building is considered to be a fine example of classic Thai architecture, was restored by King Mongkut in 1863 and is now home to a collection of Thai artefacts.

To the south of the Chantara Phisan Pavilion is the Dusit Sawan Thanya Maha Prasat Hall. Built by the king for meeting VIPs, this is was where he probably greeted Chevalier de Chaumont, the representative of France's Louis XIV. Although the roof is long gone, it is believed to have been multi-tiered and topped by a tall spire. What's left now shows a meld of Thai and French architectural styles.

In the far southwestern corner is the Suttha Sawan Pavilion which was the later residence of the king. Before he died he dedicated both this pavilion and its immediate surrounding grounds to a monastery in order to protect it from plotters awaiting his death. The pavilion was surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains, with some of the landscaping still evident.

In 1856 during the reign of King Rama IV, the palace grounds were restored and the Phiman Mongkut Pavilion was built and used as his residence when he visited. The three-storey brick building is linked to three other buildings, all of which are now used as part of the Lopburi National Museum.

The museum is home to a range of Lopburi period sculpture and artefacts along with a smattering of historic goods connected to visits by the French.

Monday and Tuesday admission is free but you cannot enter any of the buildings.

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Surasongkhram Rd
Opening Hours: Wed-Sun 09:00-16:00

Statue of King Narai the Great

This statue was erected in honour King Narai who has been credited with, among other things, being the first Thai monarch to establish diplomatic relations with France and to pursue a friendly policy towards foreigners, especially Europeans. The monument is at the centre of the large roundabout to the east of the historic quarter.

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Eastern edge of town

Phra Prang Sam Yot

The 'Temple of Three Prangs' is regarded as Lopburi's chief landmark. Built as a Hindu monument, the prangs of the laterite-sandstone structure are said to represent the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. During the reign of King Narai it was converted to a Buddhist temple and some ruined Lopburi period Buddhas remain as evidence of this. The southern prang is probably the best preserved of the three, with decorative carving still visible. Like many sites in Lopburi, Phra Prang Sam Yot is overrun by monkeys, so keep hold of your baseball caps, sunglasses and scarves.

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Vichayen Rd

San Phra Kan or the Kala Shrine

This shrine is not particularly old but highly revered. Built in 1951, it's home to a stone statue of Vishnu with Buddha's head on it. The statue is completely covered in gold leaf but is still fairly unremarkable. What's most remarkable here is the sheer number of monkeys - they are such a menace that the entire area was caged in to try to control them and stop monkeys being killed on the road outside.

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Vichayen Rd

Prang Khaek

This small ruin was, like Prang Sam Yot, originally a Hindu shrine and has been restored several times. The site consists of three small brick Khmer prangs, the oldest in central Thailand.

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Vichayen Rd

Wat Nakhon Kosa

This temple was originally constructed by the Khmers, with the prang out front built in 1157. It may have originally been a Hindu site, as U Thong Buddha images found here are predated by the rest of the structure. The shrine is fairly run down now and restoration work has been haphazard.

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By the train tracks

Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat

This archaeologically important site was founded in the 12th century while Lopburi was under Khmer rule. The prang is the tallest in Lopburi and is distinct from its northeastern contemporaries by being so tall and slender. Built of laterite, much of the decorative work is eroded though some lintels and stucco work are still evident, allowing one to conjure up an image of what at one time must have been an impressive construction. The Thai Fine Arts Department restored it.

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By the train station

Ambassador's Residence or Vichayen House

Originally constructed by King Narai as a residence for Chevalier de Chaumont, the first French ambassador to Thailand, Vichayen House's most famous resident was actually Constantine Phaulkon, a Greek advisor to the king. In 1688, while the king lay on his deathbed, Phaulkon was assassinated during a power struggle. Today the house is roofless but the grounds are very well kept and worth wandering through to see what's left of the distinctly European architecture. The complex consists of the residence to the left, a church in the centre and a reception hall on the right along with the remains of water tanks and fountains.

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Vichayen Rd

Wat Phra Phutthabat

Literally translated, this means 'Buddha Footprint', and that is exactly what this shrine houses. It was discovered during the rule of King Song Kham of Ayutthaya and is now considered to be one of the most significant in Thailand. The shape is unusual, looking more like a coffin than a footprint. The footprint is kept in a golden shrine decorated with thousands of glittering coloured glass shards.

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How to get there: The shrine is actually in Saraburi province (31 km from Saraburi town) but is just as easy to visit from Lopburi, which also has a few more sites to squeeze in than Saraburi. If you have seen all of Lopburi's sights in the morning, this makes for a fine afternoon excursion. To reach here, jump on any Saraburi-bound bus and jump of at the 14 km marker, where a Bangkok Bank lies to the left and a huge white archway is on the right. It's about 1 km through the archway to the base of the temple. Admission is 30B for westerners, free for Thais.