LOPBURI

General Information

A province in the central region of Thailand, Lop Buri Province is located approximately 154 kilometers north of Bangkok. Covering an area of 6,199 square kilometers, the province is situated on the western end of the Khorat Plateau. It borders Chaiyaphum and Nakhon Ratchasima Provinces on the east, Phetchabun and Nakhon Sawan Provinces on the north, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya and Saraburi Provinces on the South. Lop Buri Province is one of several provinces in central Thailand where many significant historical artifacts and prehistoric settlements have been discovered.

Formerly known as “Lawo”, Lop Buri had for centuries been ruled by several Kingdoms. The remains of Lop Buri, dating over 1,200 years attests to the strategic significance of Lop Buri to many rulers. These relics, ranging from the Bronze Age to the Ratanakosin period, have made Lop Buri a blend of east and west and ancient and modern, revealing the city’s turbulent and alluring history and a glimpse of Thailand’s extraordinary past.

The Past

Lop Buri was first developed into a major town during the Dvaravati Kingdom (6th – 11th centuries). Most historians believed the first settlers of the town were the Lawa (an ethnic group related to the Mons) which is the reason for naming the town Lawo. In 10th century, the town came under absolute sovereignty of the Khmers who made it one of their oldest provincial capitals. The Khmer Mahayana Buddhism style was a major influence on the town’s architecture and was later commonly referred to as “Lop Buri Style”. Remains of Khmer–Hindu architectural motifs found in the city include the Shiva’s Shrine (Prang Khaek), San Phra Kan, Phra Prang Sam Yot, and Wat Phra Si Mahathat.

It was in the late 13th century when the Thais, who migrated from the North, fought against the Khmers and declared their independence. Since then, Lop Buri has been ruled by Thai Kings.

Lop Buri first became known when King U-Tong, who established the Ayutthaya Kingdom, sent his son, Ramesuan the Crown Prince, to govern the city. The Prince commanded the building of moats, city walls and battlement towers.

Lop Buri reached its height in 1664 when King Narai the Great of Ayutthaya named Lop Buri the Kingdom’s second capital, which came after a threat of invasion from Hollanders. King Narai the Great rebuilt Lop Buri with the help of French architects and ruled the Kingdom from there, instead of Ayutthaya., Thus the city’s architecture mostly reflected a mixture of Thai and Western styles, which can be seen today in the remains of the Royal Palace, the Royal Reception House etc.

Lop Buri gradually faded from the political scene with the death of King Narai the Great. It, however, made a comeback approximately 200 years later when King Rama IV of the Ratanakosin Era decided to restore the city. He also commanded the restoration of the old Palace and named it “Phra Narai Ratchaniwet” (Narai Ratchaniwet Palace) in honor of King Narai the Great.

After Thailand’s democratic revolution, Marshall Poh Pibulsongkram rebuilt a military camp near the city’s railroad, therefore, dividing the city into the old (ancient) and new zone.

The Present


Today, Lop Buri is administratively divided into 11 Amphoes (Districts) including Muang, Ban Mi, Chai Badan, Khok Charoen, Khok Samrong, Phatthana Nikhom, Tha Luang, Tha Wung, Sa Bot, Lam Sonthi and Nong Muang.

Apart from historical attractions, Lop Buri provides opportunities for nature lovers to visit its famous Sap langka Wildlife Sanctuary in the north.

Another special landmark of Lop Buri is monkeys. To tourists, the city is known as the land of monkeys. To the people of Lop Buri, the monkeys are descendants of Hanuman who, according to the Ramayana, built Lop Buri as his kingdom. The food offerings in San Phra Kan drew the monkeys from nearby forests. These mischievous monkeys have taken over several attractions such as San Phra Kan and Phra Prang Sam Yot. A big feast for the monkeys on the last Sunday of November is held annually at Phra Prang Sam Yot and is one of the most attractive and most talked about tourist events in Thailand.

How to get there
By Car:
From Bangkok: The trip from Bangkok to Lop Buri by car may take up to 2 hours. It is possible to either drive along Highway No.1 via Saraburi (total distance is 153 kilometers), or use Highway No. 32 via Ayutthaya, and travel further along Highway No. 347 to Lop Buri via Tha Ruea District.

By Bus:
From Bangkok: Air-conditioned coaches and non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal) every 20 minutes from 5.30 a.m. until 8.30 p.m. The ticket costs 62 bahts (ordinary bus) and 85 bahts (air-conditioned). The journey takes 3 hours. Call 02 936 2852-66 for more information.

From Ayutthaya: There are buses that leave every 10 minutes from Ayutthaya Bus Terminal to Lop Buri. The price is half of the fare from Bangkok.

Lop Buri can be reached by taking buses from Kanchanaburi (the west), Suphan Buri, Sing Buri, Ang Thong (the central), and Nakhon Ratchasima (the east).

By Train:
From Bangkok: Ordinary northern-route (Bangkok-Chiang Mai) trains leave Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Railway Station at 7.05 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. Both are third class only. Rapid trains leave the station 5 times a day (Travel time is 2.5 hrs.) For more updated schedules and reservations, call 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 22237020 or visit www.railway.co.th.

From Ayutthaya: regular 3rd class trains depart Ayutthaya to Lop Buri. Travel time is 1 hour.

Travelling in Lop Buri:
There are plenty of Song thaews running along Wichayen and Phra Narai Maharat Roads connecting the old and new towns. The cost is 5 bahts per person. City buses are also available. It costs 4 bahts per passenger. Sam lors will go anywhere in the old town from 30 – 50 bahts.

Festivals
King Narai Reign Fair
King Narai Reign Fair This fair commemorates the reign of King Narai the Great, the Ayutthayan monarch best known for his promotion of diplomatic relations with European powers during the mid-1600s. The fair is centred at King Narai’s Palace and features processions, a light and sound presentation, folk entertainment and sales of local products.

SUPHANBURI

General Information


Just a hundred kilometres away from Bangkok, Suphan Buri is an ancient town rich in natural and historical heritage. The province was once an important border town involving battles and important wars during the period of the Ayutthaya kingdom. So, today, travelling around the province is like drifting through historical novels. Historical evidence leads you to travel to the past such as Don Chedi Monument, Wat Khao Khuen whose abbot played a signifcant role in Thai history, U Thong National Museum, etc. Furthermore, various natural wonders such as Phu Toei National Park, Bueng Chawak Aquarium, as well as the famous local-style cake Sali Suphan always impress visitors.

Suphan Buri occupies a total area of 5,358 square kilometres and is administratively divided into 10 districts (Amphoes); Mueang Suphan Buri, Doem Bang Nang Buat, Bang Pla Ma, Si Prachan, Song Phi Nong, Sam Chuk, U Thong, Don Chedi, Dan Chang and Nong Ya Sai.

How to get there

Car
There are many routes for travelling from Bangkok to Suphan Buri:
Bangkok-Bang Bua Thong-Suphan Buri, a distance of 107 kilometres.
Bangkok-Pathum Thani-Lat Lum Kaeo-Suphan Buri, a distances of 115 kilometres
Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Suphan Buri, a distance of 132 kilometres
Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom-Kamphaeng Saen-Suphan Buri, a distance of 164 kilometres

Bus
Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses departs from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal (Tel: 0 2435 1199-200) and Mochit 2 Bus Terminal (Tel: 0 2936 2852-66) to Suphan Buri many times daily.

Train
A train leaves Bangkok Station daily for Suphan Buri at 4.40 pm. and reaches the province at 7.32 pm. On the return trip, the train leaves at 5 am. and reaches Bangkok at 8.10 am. For more details, call 1690, 0 2220 4334 or visit the website www. railway.co.th.

Festivals

Don Chedi Memorial This annual fair
Don Chedi Memorial This annual fair is held for 7 days to commemorate the historic event at Don Chedi in 1592 that led to the liberation of the kingdom from foreign occupation. The celebration commences on the 25th of January, which is regarded as the Royal Thai Armed Forces Day, with historical exhibitions and outdoor entertainment.

Activities include a light and sound show of the elephant fight, a Don Chedi Beauty Pagaent (with contestants in period costume), a fair of both government and private organizations, and other stage performances.

TRANG

General Information

Trang at a glance
Located approximately 828 kilometers from Bangkok, Trang Province covers an area of 4,941 square kilometers. The province borders on Nakhon Si Thammarat Province to the north, Satun Province and the Indian Ocean (Andaman Sea) to the south, Phatthalung Province to the east and the Indian Ocean and Krabi Province to the west. Trang is considered a magnificent coastal province as it long, beautiful coastline stretches 199 kilometers along the Indian Ocean. In addition, the province has two major rivers flowing through it, the Trang River, which originates in the Khao Luang Mountain Range and Maenam Palian from the Banthat Mountain Range.

Despite the fact that Trang City plays a key role in facilitating trade and communications to Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand’s southern commercial hub, Trang is a province less traveled to by tourists. It was only recently that Trang has been poised to establish itself on the international travel map.

Trang has geographical advantages similar to that of Krabi and Phang-Nga. This includes breathtaking islands and astounding beaches along the coast as well as awe-inspiring inland limestone- propped mountains. The province consists of an archipelago in the Andaman Sea with over 46 islands. Of these, 12 are in Amphoe Kantang, 13 in Amphoe Palian and 21 in Amphoe Sikao. The best time to visit Trang is between December and May.

Trang has both mainland beaches and a whole string of offshore islands. For visitors interested in light-adventure activities such as cruising coastal waters, visiting notable sights such as the enchanting Emerald Cave, which is accessible only by water, will prove to be remarkable experience. Additional attractions include the Mu Ko Petra National Park with beaches and islands lapped by the warm waters of the Andaman Sea. Some of the dive sites in the National Park are world-class. There are also wildlife sanctuaries such as Namtok Khao Chong and Khlong Lamchan Park with waterfalls, nature trails and caves. For those looking for a relaxed, tranquil ambience, Trang is a perfect place to unwind amidst stunning scenery.

With an abundance of blissful attractions mixed with cultural heritage, Trang Province is truly an emerging fascinating tourist destination with numerous jungles, mountains and waterfalls.

The City also has numerous attractions. Walking around Trang City, visitors will be amazed at the mixture of Western, Chinese and Thai cultures reflected in the architecture that range from the Sino- Portuguese shop houses to the Chinese temples and shrines. The Pan-Ya House is the local style of houses in Trang, which offers an insight into the architectural heritage of this town. In addition to architectural attractions there are many parks to stroll through and markets to explore. The main two markets in Trang are Ta Klang and Municipal markets.

History of Trang
Trang or Mueang Thap Thiang used to be a port engaged in foreign trade. It was the first city where rubber was planted after Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi brought it from Malaysia in 1899. Since then, rubber has become South’s major commodity and is now considered an important source of income for farmers.

Today’s Trang
Trang has a total area of 4,941 square kilometers and is divided into 10 districts (Amphoe) and 1 sub-district (King Amphoe); Amphoe Mueang, Amphoe Kantang, Amphoe Huai Yot, Amphoe Yan Ta Khao, Amphoe Palian, Amphoe Sikao, Amphoe Wang Wiset, Amphoe Na Yong, Amphoe Ratsada, and King Amphoe Hat Samran.

The best time to visit Trang
The best time to visit Trang is between December and May. As it is located on the same coastline as Phuket and Krabi Provinces, Trang Province is also influenced by the monsoon. The temperature is generally warm all year round with an average temperature varying from 20 Celsius to 36 Celsius.

In April, the daytime temperature is highest and it is also the hottest period of the year. The rainy season, which is from May to September, has rains and short downpours during the daytime. The monsoon period comes from September to November and then from December onwards the weather generally becomes more pleasant.

By Car
Route 1: Take Highway No. 4 (Bangkok-Chumphon) to Highway No. 41 (Surat Thani-Thung Song- Huai Yot-Trang). Total distance is 828 kilometers.
Route 2: Highway No. 4 (Bangkok-Chumphon) to Ranong-Phan-Nga-Krabi-Trang. Total distance is 1,020 kilometers.
Route 3: Highway No. 404-416 (Satun-Palian-Trang). Total distance is 140 kilometers.
Route 4: Highway No. 4-407 (Hat Yai-Phatthalung-Trang). Total distance is 148 kilometers.
Route 5: Highway No. 4-402 (Phuket-Phang-Nga-Krabi-Trang). Total distance is 312 kilometers.

By Train
From Bangkok: Rapid and express trains depart from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Railway Station to Trang daily at 5.05 p.m. and 6.20 p.m. taking 15 hours for the 870-kilometer journey. For more information, call 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or calling Trang Station at tel. 0 7521 8012, or visit www.railway.co.th

By Bus
From Bangkok: Air-conditioned buses depart from the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok to Trang every day.
The trip takes 12 hours. For more information, please call 0 2435 1199-200 or Trang Bus Terminal at tel. 0 7521 8718 or visit www.railway.co.th
From/to neighboring provinces: Hat Yai (ordinary), Satun (first class and ordinary), Krabi (first class and ordinary), Ko Lanta (first class), and Phuket (ordinary).

There are also minivans leaving from various depots in Trang City that link Trang to other major cities including Hat Yai (80 bahts), Surat Thani (130 bahts), Ko Lanta (120 bahts), Hat Jao Mai (50 bahts), Pak Meng (50 bahts), and Sakao (25 bahts).

By Air
Thai Airways International has daily direct flights between Bangkok and Trang Province with a travel time of 1.10 hours. For more information, call 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 (Bangkok office), 0 7521 9923 or 0 7521 8066 (Trang office), or visit the airline’s website at www.thaiairways.com

Getting around Trang City
The fare for motorcycle taxis around the town is between 10 bahts and 20 bahts, while that of tuk-tuks is approximately 15 bahts. Motorcycles can be rented from various shops around town.

Vegetarian Festival
For vegetarians, a Vegetarian Festival is organized every October. This is a Chinese tradition where believers refrain from eating meat and particular vegetables for nine days in order to make merit and give offerings to the spirits.