[
Phra Prang Sam Yot ]
This former Hindu Shrine is some 200 meters from the railway station and
is Lopburi's best known landmark. The laterite and sandstone structure
was constructed in the Lopburi style and decorated with stucco. The
three towers signify the Hindu Trinity of Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the
Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. During the reign of King Narai, the
Great the shrine was converted to a Buddhist temple.

[
San Phra Kan ]
This former Brahman shrine adjacent to Phra Prang Sam Yot comprises two
sections, the older dating back to the Khmer period, the newer dating
from 1951. The latter contains a four-armed deity with a Buddha's head
which is an object of worship. The shrine is noteworthy for a resident
troupe of mischievous and entertaining monkeys.

[
Prang Kaek ]
This charming and petite Khmer ruin in the market place on Vichayen Rd.
near Narai Ratchaniwet Palace was also a Hindu shrine and is considered
to be Lopburi's oldest monument

[
Wat Phra Si Rattana ]
Mahathat Located north of the railway station, near the Phra Kan shrine,
this temple was formerly a Khmer palace of worship. The Lopburi-style
prang fronting the temple was built around 1157.
The U-thong-style cement Buddhas on the prangs were added at a later
date. The temple was probably restored during the reign of King Narai
the Great.

[
Wat San Paolo ]
This Temple situated on Ram Decho Rd. some 1.5 kms. East of town, was
originally a Jesuit church and the first observatory in Asia founded
during King Narai's reign.

[
Kraison Siharat Hall (Phra Thinang Yen) ]
Located on an island in a dried up lake, Tale Chupsorn, that formerly
supplied drinking water
to Lopburi residents, the hall was build by King Narai and was used as a
place by the King, Jesuits and Louis XIV's enjoys to witness a lunar
eclipse on December 11,1685.

[
King Narai the Great Statue
]
This statue near the town entrance commemorates the Ayutthayan
monarch who made Lop Buri his second capital, and helped the town
prosper. Narai the Great is remembered for fostering close diplomatic
ties with European powers, and introducing western technology, such as
terra cotta pipes to supply drinking water to his palace.

[
Wat Sao Thong ]
parts of this temple, north of Narai the Great's palace, may have
originally been constructed either as a church or a mosque. Narai the
Great restored the monastery and initiated the western-style windows of
the secondary chapel. Near this building are the Pichu and Khotchasan
Buildings which were formerly used as reception houses for the Persian
ambassadors.

[
Wat Mani Chonlakhan ]
originally named Wat Ko Kaeo, this temple was constructed during the
reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV, reign:1851-1868) on a riverine island in
the Lop Buri River. Interesting sights include the chapels, Chedi Luang
Pho Saeng and the large riverside Buddha image.

[
Narai Ratchaniwet Palace ]
This palace was built by King Narai the Great, constructed over a 12
year period from 1665 until 1667. Narai Ratchaniwet Palace is located in
the town center.

Structures built during the reign of King Narai include:
□
The Water Reservior
constructed to store water which came through terra cotta pipes from a
freshwater lake, Tale Chupsorn, which supplied drinking water to the
inhabitants of Lop Buri.
□
Phra Khlang Supharat
commonly known as the twelve treasure houses and built to store royal
treasures, as well as royal goods sold to foreign merchants during the
late 1600s.
□
Dusit Sawan Thanya Maha Prasat Hall
King Narai and this building constructed as an audience hall in which to
receive high-ranking foreign visitors and ambassador. The king probably
receive Chevalier de Choumont, the representative of Louis XIV, in this
hall. The building was constructed in a mixture of French and Thai
architectural styles.
□
Chantara Phisan Pavilion
originally the royal residence of King Narai, in 1665, the pavilion was
subsequently used as an audience hall after the king moved his residence
to the Sutha Sawan Pavilion. Architecturally, the building in purely
Thai style, indicating that no French architects were involved in its
construction. The building was restored in 1863 by King Mongkut, and now
serves as a hall for displaying archaeological and are objects. Many
Lopburi-style stone Buddha Images are kept in the building.
□
Suttha Sawan Pavilion
It was this residence that Narai the Great died on July 11,1688, while
the palace was under the control of royal revolutionaries. Ruins of
artificial hills and fountains remain. It was recorded that the pavilion
originally stood amid a beautiful garden that contained many fountains.
□
Vichayen House
Vichayen House was countered by King Narai as a residence for chevalier
de Chaumont, the first French ambassador to Thailand during the reign of
Louis XIV. Later, the residence was occupied by Chao Phraya Vichayen
(the Greek adventure Constantine Phaulkon) until his death in 1688. Many
ruined buildings dot the compound, one served as a Roman Catholic
chapel. Others were residences for the ambassador and mision members.
Ruined brick water tanks and fountains are also visible.
□
Phiman Monkut Pavilion
The three-storied building was used by King Mongkut as his residence
during the renovation of the palace. Three other two-storied buildings,
namely the Sutthi Winitchai Pavilion, the Chai Sattrakorn Pavilion and
the Aksorn Sattrakhom, are connected to the Phiman Monkut Pavilion. The
three buildings are offices of the Lopburi.
□
Banquet Hall
built to entertain foreign visitors, the hall is surrounded on three
side by ponds. A brick platform fronting the hall may have been a stage
or theatre where guests were entertained, perhaps by shadow plays or
dances, following dinner.
□
Farmer's Museum
Traditional agricultural tools and implements, including ploughs, carts,
grain separators and fish traps are displayed.
□
Phra Chao Hao Building
was built by King Narai,The Great probably as a private audience hall,
in Thai architectural style. Only wall sections remain, but designs
decorating doors and windows are still visible. Phra Prathiap Buildings
eight two-stories buildings behind King Monkut's residence were used as
the residence of inner court officials. Prang Nang Phom Hom Some 2 kms.
from Nong Ree market, Tambon Nong Ree, Lam Sonthi district. It was
constructed in Khmer style with laterite and sandstone, look like Prang
Koo of Northeastern region.
□
Somdet
Phra Narai National Museum
This museum was established in 1924 in the Narai Ratchaniwet Palace. the
museum is open from 9.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. everyday except Monday and
Tuesday. Various object d'art and antiques are displayed in three more
buildings.
□
Phiman Monkut Pavilion
Prehistoric artifacts, such as stone axes and earthenware, ancient
Buddha images, woodcarvings, statues of celestial beings and the like
are displayed. The three-storied building was used by King Mongkut as
his residence during the renovation of the palace.
□
Chantharaphisan Pavilion
Buddhist artifacts from the Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods, and
historic paintings from King Narai's reign, are displayed. Wat Yang Na
Rangsi Located beside the Lopburi river, some 9 kms. south of the city
center, the temple is notable for its wooden sala (teaching hall) dating
from the 1920s, which houses a Local Boat Museum where in many local
vessels are displayed.
□
Wat Lai
Located on the banks of the Bang Kham canal, Tha Wung district, some 24
kms. From Lopburi, this Ayutthaya-period temple is particularly
noteworthy for a chapel with stucco renditions of the Buddha's previous
life, and his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. the exquisite
craftsmanship makes this a masterpiece of Thai sculpture. |