Ibrahim Jabbari
WHERE: Lopburi, Thailand
The city of Lopburi is an hour north of Ayutthaya, and as soon as you step off the train here you’ll see Khmer style ruins, which are dotted throughout the city center that’s grown up around them. Most are from the 12th century onward, when Lopburi (then Lavo) became part of the Khmer empire. Just across from the train station is Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat (12th century), and nearby is Prang Sam Yot (early 13th century). It’s a dead ringer for some of the temples of Angkor because it was built by the same king, Jayavarman VII. Lopburi has two things in spades: ruins and macaques. These little monkeys run wild around the ruins, swinging from power lines, and sitting on the city center’s rooftops. They’re relatively harmless but are certainly cheeky and will snatch any food or drink they see.
Don’t miss the ruins of Bahn Vichien, built by King Narai in the late 17th century as a French embassy. The structure was designed by Narai’s Greek advisor Constantine Phaulkon and, unlike the other ruins, is clearly European and not Khmer in style. After the French left, Phaulcon moved in. Among the ruins are small decorative pools and a little chapel.
