Lopburi province

{{Main|History of Lopburi|Lavo kingdom}}

Known as Lavo during much of its history, Lopburi probably dates to prehistoric times.{{cite web|title=Lopburi|url=https://www.tourismthailand.org/About-Thailand/Destination/Lop-Buri|website=Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT)|access-date=21 June 2015}} The name Lavo originated from the capital city of Lavo kingdom, an ancient Mon kingdom of Dvaravati period (6th–11th century CE).{{Cite book|url=https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/115019/2/b11055005.pdf|title=The Indianized States of Southeast Asia|last=Cœdès|first=George|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|year=1968|isbn=978-0-8248-0368-1}} The conquering Khmer would build many impressive temples in the city during its rule. Lopburi may even have liberated itself for a time, as it sent independent embassies to China in 1115 and 1155. In 1289 it sent another embassy to China, but soon became part of the Thai kingdom of Sukhothai and later Ayutthaya.

During the Ayutthaya period, King Ramathibodi I sent Phra Ramesuan (later King Ramesuan) as the Uparaja to reign in Lopburi. In 1666 King Narai the Great ordered a new palace built on the east bank of the Lopburi River and made Lopburi the second capital of the country, as Ayutthaya was threatened by the Dutch. After King Narai died, the city was almost abandoned and fell into ruin.

In 1856 King Mongkut of the Chakri dynasty ordered King Narai's palace to be renovated. The city finally regained its importance in 1937, when Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram chose Lopburi to be the largest military base in Thailand and once was decide to be new capital city of Thailand after the end of World War II.{{Cite web|url=https://www.komchadluek.net/news/politic/115578|title = ย้ายเมืองหลวง?|date = 21 November 2011}}

Lopburi is on the east side of the Chao Phraya River valley, between the Lopburi River and Pa Sak Rivers. Thirty percent of the area of the province, including most of Tha Wung district, the southwestern parts of Mueang Lopburi and Ban Mi districts are a very low alluvial plain. The other 70 percent is mixed plains and hills, with the Phetchabun Mountains forming the eastern boundary of the province towards the Khorat Plateau. The total forest area is {{convert|962|km²|abbr=on}} or 14.8 percent of provincial area.{{cite web |url=https://www.forest.go.th |title=ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562 |year=2019 |department=Royal Forest Department |language=Thai |trans-title=Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019 |access-date=6 April 2021 |postscript=, information, Forest statistics Year 2019}}

There is one wildlife sanctuary in region 1 (Saraburi branch) of Thailand's protected areas.

• Sap Langka Wildlife Sanctuary, {{convert|155|km2|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://it2.dnp.go.th/wp-content/uploads/ตาราง-5-พื้นที่เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่า-ปี-2562.pdf |title=ตาราง 5 พื้นที่เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่า พ.ศ. 2562 |year=2019 |department=Department of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Plant Conservation |language=Thai |trans-title=Table 5 Wildlife Sanctuary Areas in 2019 |access-date=1 November 2022}}{{rp|5}}

Lopburi province has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification category Aw). Winters are dry and warm. Temperatures rise until May. Monsoon season runs from May through October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm. Climatic statistics: Its maximum temperature is 41.4 °C (106.5 °F) in April and the lowest temperature is 10.2 °C (50.4 °F) in December. The highest average temperature is 36.8 °C (98.2 °F) and the minimum average temperature is 20.6 °C (69.1 °F). Annual average rainfall is 1,125 millimeters with mean rainy days is 17.6 in September. Maximum daily rainfall is 203.4 millimeters in October.{{cite web |url=http://www.climate.tmd.go.th/content/file/75 |title=Climatological Data for the Period 1981-2010 |publisher=Thai Meteorological Department |page=15 |access-date=22 December 2019}}

The provincial seal shows Vishnu in front of the Khmer temple Phra Prang Sam Yod.{{Cite web|title =Phra Prang Sam Yot|url = http://www.tourismthailand.org/See-and-Do/Sights-and-Attractions-Detail/Phra-Prang-Sam-Yot--926|website=Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)|access-date=2015-11-02}}

The escutcheon of Lopburi shows Phra Narai and in the background Phra Prang Sam Yod, the "Sanctuary with the Three Towers". It refers to King Narai who in 1664 fortified the city to be used as an alternative capital when Ayutthaya was threatened by a Dutch naval blockade.{{cite web|title=Provincial Escutcheon| url=http://thailex.asia/THAILEX/THAILEXENG/LEXICON/Copy%20of%20Lopburi.htm|website=THAILEX Travel Encyclopedia|access-date=2015-11-02}}

The provincial tree as well as the provincial flower is the bullet wood.{{Cite web|url = http://www.lopburi.go.th/web/about-us/lopburi-logo.html|title =Lopburi province (จังหวัดลพบุรี)|access-date=2015-11-02|website=Lopburi province}} The provincial aquatic life is the Java barb (Barbonymus gonionotus).

The slogan of the province is National treasures of King Narai's palace and Phra Kan Shrine, famous Prang Sam Yot, city of Din So Phong Marl, well-known Pa Sak Cholasit Dam and golden land of King Narai the Great.

File:Districts_Lopburi.svg

The province is subdivided into 11 districts (amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 122 sub-districts (tambon) and 1,126 villages (muban).

{{see also|List of governors of Lop Buri}}

As of 26 November 2019 there are:{{cite web |url=http://www.dla.go.th/work/abt/province.jsp |title=Number of local government organizations by province |date=26 November 2019 |website=dla.go.th |publisher=Department of Local Administration (DLA) |access-date=10 December 2019 | quote=51 Lopburi: 1 PAO, 3 Town mun., 20 Subdistrict mun., 102 SAO.}} one Lopburi Provincial Administrative Organization ({{lang|th-Latn|ongkan borihan suan changwat}}) and 23 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Lopburi, Khao Sam Yot and Ban Mi have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 20 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 102 Subdistrict Administrative Organizations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

File:สถานีรถไฟลพบุรี.JPG

file:Lopburi Prang Sam Yot 2.jpg

file:Lopburi City Gate.jpg

Lopburi railway station is a station of the State Railway of Thailand's Northern Line, the end of Bangkok's suburban service.{{cite web|work=Facebook|language=thai|date=2024-11-18|accessdate=2021-11-28|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=732600201030327&set=a.225826661707686&locale=th_TH|title=#ก่อนจะย้ายหัวลำโพงนะ|trans-title=#Before moving Hua Lamphong|first=Pakawat|last=Parichatsakul}}

The main road through Lobpuri is Highway 1 (Phahonyothin Road), which starts in Bangkok, and continues through Lopburi, Chai Nat, Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Lampang, Chiang Rai, and the border with Burma at Mae Sai. Highway 311 leads west to Sing Buri, and Highway 3196 leads south-west to Ang Thong.{{fact|date=February 2021}}

Khok Kathiam Air Force Base is {{convert|9|km|mi}} north of the town. It has no commercial flights.{{fact|date=February 2021}}

Lopburi's main hospital is King Narai Hospital, operated by the Ministry of Public Health.

• Thepsatri Rajabhat University
• Kasetsart University, Lopburi Campus
• Ramkhamhaeng University, Lopburi Campus
• Pibul Wittayalai School

• San Phra Kan
• Phra Prang Sam Yot
• King Narai's Palace
• Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat
• Ban Chao Phraya Wichayen
• Prang Khaek
• Wat Khao Wong Prachan
• Wang Kan Lueang Waterfall
• Pa Sak Jolasid Dam and the railway viaduct ("the floating railway")
• Sunflower fields of Phatthana Nikhom

• King Narai Reign Fair (งานแผ่นดินสมเด็จพระนารายณ์): Event held annually, it is considered the greatest fair of the province. The objective is to honour King Narai the Great, who used to live here. The highlight is that all Lopburi people are dressed in traditional Thai clothes throughout the province and there is a sound and light performance at the King Narai's Palace in the evening. This fair is promoted by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).{{cite web|url=http://www.thaifestivalblogs.com/king-narai-reign-fair/|title=King Narai Reign Fair: 14th-23rd February 2020|work=Thaifestivalblogs.com|access-date=2020-02-23|first=Richard |last=Barrow}}{{cite web|url=https://news.ch7.com/detail/396093|work=Ch7|language=th|access-date=2020-02-23|date=2020-02-21|title=เช้านี้วิถีไทย : นุ่งโจง ห่มสไบ แต่งไทย ไปเที่ยวงาน แผ่นดินสมเด็จพระนารายณ์มหาราช จ.ลพบุรี|trans-title=Chao Ni Thi Mo Chit : Dressed in Thai costumes, traveling to King Narai Reign Fair Lopburi Province}}
• Monkey Buffet Festival (เทศกาลโต๊ะจีนลิง): Annually buffet held during November for herd of macaques that live at ancient Khmer temple, Phra Prang Sam Yot and nearby Phra Kan Shrine in the centre of province, which they are like a symbol of the province. It was first organized in the year 1989.{{cite web|url=https://www.thaifestivalblogs.com/lopburi-monkey-party/|title=Lopburi Monkey Party: 29th November 2020|work=Thaifestivalblogs.com|access-date=2020-02-23|first=Richard |last=Barrow}}
• Climbing Up Khao Wong Phra Chan Festival (ประเพณีขึ้นเขาวงพระจันทร์): Pilgrimage inscription by climbing up 3,790 steps of Khao Wong Phrachan (crescent moon hill), the province's highest hill that located in Khok Samrong district for pay homage to replica of the Lord Buddha's footprint and Buddha statues that enshrined on the top of the hill. This festival is usually held on the Chinese New Year period and has been very popular, especially from Thai people of Chinese descent.{{cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/1628922/buddhist-festival|work=Bangkok Post|date=2019-02-14|access-date=2020-03-02|title=Buddhist Festival|first=Pichaya |last=Svasit}}

Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.

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{{Reflist}}

{{commons|Lopburi|Lopburi Province}}

• [http://www.lopburi.go.th Website of province] (Thai)
• [http://www.thailex.info/THAILEX/THAILEXENG/LEXICON/Lopburi.htm Lopburi provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621185734/http://www.thailex.info/THAILEX/THAILEXENG/LEXICON/Lopburi.htm |date=21 June 2015 }}

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Lopburi province

|North = Phetchabun province

|Northeast = Chaiyaphum province

|East = Nakhon Ratchasima province

|Southeast = Saraburi province

|South = Ayutthaya province

|Southwest = Ang Thong province

|West = Singburi province

|Northwest = Nakhon Sawan province

}}

{{Lopburi}}

{{Provinces of Thailand}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|14|48|2|N|100|39|5|E|type:adm1st_region:TH|display=title}}

Category:Provinces of Thailand