The former Hindu shrine of Prang Sam Yot (Three
Peak Towers) is Lop Buri's most famous landmark.
The 3 towers were originally based on Khmer art
and architecture,
but local artisans gave it the Lop Buri touch by
adding Buddha images and modifying with several
other variations. The shrine was converted to a
Buddhist temple during King Narai's reign.
The Statue of King Narai the Great stands near
the provincial
capital's
entrance to commemorate the great Ayutthayan monarch
who helped Lop Buri prosper. King Narai is remembered
for fostering close diplomatic ties with European
powers and introducing western technology, such
as terra cotta pipes to supply drinking water.
The square-shaped Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat
complex encloses ruins
from two distinct eras. At the center is the finely
detailed 12th-century stucco Khmer prang. Scattered
around the complex are chedis built in the Ayutthaya
and Sukhothai-styles and a wiharn (hall) commissioned
by King Narai.
The Vichayen House was built as a residence for
the first French
ambassador
to Thailand during the reign of Louis XIV. Later
it was inhabited by the King's favorite minister,
the Greek Constantine Phaulkon, who encouraged King
Narai to forge close ties with the Europeans, predominantly
with the French. Scattered around the compound are
other ruined buildings that served as residences
for other mission members, water tanks, fountains,
and a Roman Catholic chapel.
King Narai's Ratchaniwet Palace was constructed
during mid-1600s and was abandoned after his death.
The palace combined both Thai and western-style
architecture, indicating the European's influence
during that period. Later on, King Mongkut, Rama
IV restored parts of the palace, including the majestic
Chanthara Phisan Pavilion, originally the royal
residence of King Narai built purely in Thai-style.
The three-storied, colonial-styled Phiman Mongkut
Pavilion within King Narai's Palace served as King
Mongkut's (Rama IV) residence during the palace
renovations. Connected to it are three other two-storied
pavilions. Nowadays, the buildings have been converted
into the Narai National Museum which houses a superb
collection of Lop Buri Buddha images and earlier
kingdom's arts.
The Kraison Siharat Hall is located on an island
in the dried up Tale (lake) Chupson that formerly
supplied drinking water to the city of Lop Buri.
King Narai built the place to be used by him and
Louis XIV's envoys to witness a lunar eclipse on
December 11, 1685.
Wat San Paolo originally served as a Jesuit church
during King Narai's reign.
Situated at the foot of Sanam Daeng (Red Field)
Mountain is Wat Khao Wongkot that has a large bat
cave. The featured attraction occurs daily around
6 p.m. when a
massive
amount of bats leave the cave, taking 2 hours to
fully empty out the cave. Bat droppings can be purchased
at the temple.
The nation's largest Sunflower Field is located
some 45 km from town. Tourists swarm the fields
during the months of November to January when the
sunflowers are in full bloom.
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