Showing 1-9 of 9 results
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Chao Phraya Wichayen
King Narai built the Thai-European Chao Phraya Wichayen as a residence for foreign ambassadors, of whom the Greek Constantine Phaulkon was the most famous. Phaulkon became one of King Narai's advisers and was eventually a royal minister. He was also implicated in an attempted coup and in 1688, as Narai lay dying, Phaulkon was assassinated by Luang Sorasak, who wanted power for himself. The palace is across the street and northeast of Wat Sao Thong Thong.
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Phra Narai Ratchaniwet
Start your tour of Lopburi at Phra Narai Ratchaniwet, a former royal palace, which is a combination of palace ruins and artefact galleries. During the reign of Ayuthaya's King Narai, Lopburi was used as a second capital. The king chose this site for his palace, which took 12 years to build between 1665 and 1677. At the time, the Ayuthaya kingdom hosted many Western envoys, and French architects contributed to the design.
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Prang Khaek
Situated on a triangular slice of land bordered by Th Wichayen to the north, Prang Khaek features towers with Khmer-style brickwork. The structure is thought to have originally been a temple to the Hindu god Shiva and dates back to the 11th century.
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Prang Sam Yot
Opposite San Phra Kan, the Prang Sam Yot represents classic Khmer-Lopburi style and is Lopburi's most photographed Hindu-turned-Buddhist temple. Originally, the three towers symbolised the Hindu Trimurti of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Now two of them contain ruined Lopburi-style Buddha images. Some Khmer lintels can still be made out, and some appear unfinished.
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Wat Indra
Practically nothing is known about the history of Wat Indra, which is now merely a sizable brick foundation, the curse of a forgetful history.
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Wat Nakhon Kosa
Built by the Khmers in the 12th century, Wat Nakhon Kosa may originally have been a Hindu shrine. The U Thong and Lopburi images found at the temple are thought to have been added later. There's not much left of this wat, but the foliage growing on the brick ruins is an interesting sight. A notably larger base below the monument was uncovered several years ago.
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Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat
The Fine Arts Department has restored the large 12th-century Khmer Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat, considered one of the city's oldest. During Lopburi's heyday, it was the town's largest monastery, a fact clearly shown on a map drawn by French cartographers in 1687. A tall laterite tower still stands and features a few intact lintels and some ornate stucco. There is also a large wíhaan added by King Narai. Several chedi and smaller towers dot the grounds.
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Wat San Paolo
A partial brick and stucco tower is all that's left of Wat San Paolo, a Jesuit church founded by the Portuguese during King Narai's reign. A contingent of a dozen French priests came to run the church in 1687. An octagonal, three-storey celestial observatory was also erected here, though it is unclear under whose direction it was built.
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Wat Sao Thong Thong
Northwest of the palace centre, Wat Sao Thong Thong is in pretty poor shape. The wíhaan and large seated Buddha are from the Ayuthaya period; King Narai restored the wíhaan (changing its windows to an incongruous but intriguing Gothic style) so it could be used as a Christian chapel. Niches along the inside walls contain Lopburi-style Buddhas with naga (serpent) protectors.
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