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Lop Buri
Lop Buri is a historically rich province in central Thailand, known as Lavo during its long history as a Mon and later Khmer-influenced kingdom dating back at least to the 6th century CE. The ancient city of Lopburi — once a second capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom under King Narai the Great — is famed for its Khmer-era temple ruins and its resident population of crab-eating macaque monkeys.
Lop Buri covers approximately 6,199 square kilometres on the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River valley, bordered by Phetchabun and Chaiyaphum to the north, Nakhon Ratchasima to the east, Saraburi and Ayutthaya to the south, and Ang Thong, Sing Buri, and Nakhon Sawan to the west. The Lopburi and Pa Sak Rivers traverse the province, and the Phetchabun Mountains form the eastern boundary. Phra Prang Sam Yot, a 13th-century Angkorian temple in the city centre, is the iconic symbol of Lopburi, famously colonised by hundreds of macaque monkeys. King Narai's Palace (Narai Ratchaniwet), built in the mid-17th century, is a well-preserved royal complex reflecting a blend of Thai and European architectural styles. The province has a population of over 720,000 and hosts several large military installations, making Lopburi city an important garrison town.