Walking Around Lopburi

Walking Around Lopburi with mr.hotsia: The Unique Monkey and Military City

Lopburi, a city I, mr.hotsia, have returned to after more than 20 years. Old memories mixed with the freshness of this city made this trip very special. Lopburi is not just a military city or a city full of monkeys, but a city with its own charm waiting for us to stroll, explore, and absorb its simple way of life. What I enjoyed most was meeting old friends at the military camp whom I hadn't seen for a long time, and walking around the city, watching monkeys at the Three Prang Temple, and finding delicious food in true mr.hotsia style, focusing on tasty dishes and great atmosphere around the city.

Accommodation in Lopburi: Perfect Comfort

If you ask me about accommodation in Lopburi, I recommend Noom Guesthouse, popular among foreign tourists, with free Wi-Fi and a coffee shop in front where you can sip tea during the day. But on my last visit, it was fully booked, so I had to stay atNett Hotelwhich offers free Wi-Fi for guests at an affordable price under 450 baht per night. Importantly, this hotel is wrapped with monkey-proof wire mesh because the monkeys in Lopburi are really mischievous. Some hotels even remove electrical wires to prevent monkeys from entering rooms.

Besides that, Lopburi has many other good hotels such as Benjathara Boutique Place Resort, Lopburi Inn Hotel, or Pasak Hillside Resort. If you want comfort and a nice atmosphere, I recommend booking through online systems.

Life at Lopburi Morning Market

Waking up early to walk around the morning market in downtown Lopburi is an activity I, mr.hotsia, really look forward to. The Lopburi Municipal Market offers a variety of goods including fresh vegetables, fish, and local food that is easy to find. What impressed me was the soft-boiled egg coffee shop where I sat sipping hot coffee while watching people walk by, seeing Lopburi locals living a simple, unhurried life. This kind of atmosphere is hard to find in big cities.

Then I continued walking to the Three Prang Temple, the place where most Lopburi monkeys gather. I saw monkeys stealing water bottles from pickup trucks and also walked to the Phra Karn Shrine. It was a walk full of fun and memorable stories. For anyone wanting to experience this atmosphere,read more about the Lopburi morning marketto get a clearer picture.

Delicious Food in Lopburi: Flavors Not to Miss

Most food in Lopburi is similar to general central Thai cuisine, but what I like is that it’s cheap and very tasty. For example, the tom yum noodle in town costs only 12 baht per bowl, with air-conditioned seating that’s very comfortable. The air conditioning alone is worth it, plus it tastes great. For those who like sticky rice with pork topping from Lopburi, I have also written about it inthe story about sticky rice with pork topping from LopburiThere are really many delicious foods there.

Another place I tried was Bo Ngern Grilled Fish, recommended by a Lopburi friend. Although the grilled fish was a bit tough because it was overcooked, other dishes like spicy stir-fried cobra snake and spicy stir-fried softshell turtle were so delicious I didn’t want to miss them. Also, the tom yum with snakehead fish roe at this place had a strong authentic Thai flavor. The steamed curry at the front of the shop was also very tasty. If you like unusual dishes, give it a try. But if you want simple, delicious dishes, I recommend focusing on freshly made items.

Traveling Around Lopburi

Getting around Lopburi is convenient even without a private car, but having a car is better because important attractions like Khao Wong Phra Chan Temple are about 30 kilometers from town. It has a staircase with 3,799 steps and is about 650 meters above sea level. I consider it the top temple for Buddhists. However, I didn’t climb it this trip because I planned to walk around the city and relax with monkeys at the Three Prang Temple instead.

For those wanting a new experience, I, mr.hotsia, once triedthe free train from Lopburi to Ayutthayawhich departs at 6:00 AM. It was a fun experience and allowed me to see the lifestyles of people at various train stations, as well as beautiful scenery along the way that is as stunning as anywhere else.

Impressions and Fun in Lopburi

One thing I, mr.hotsia, must say is the charm and mischief of Lopburi’s monkeys that make walking around this city unlike anywhere else. The monkeys here are smart and brave, becoming part of the city—from stealing water bottles to shops using slingshots or air guns to chase them away. For example, the “Pad Thai Hitman” shop near where I stayed clearly shows the relationship between people and monkeys in this city.

I recommend anyone wanting to experience the real atmosphere of Lopburi to stroll through the old market, Lower Market, taste local food, and chat with locals. This will give you a very different perspective of Lopburi than you might expect.

If you are interested in travel stories and lifestyles in Lopburi, you can follow more of my stories atRecommended Hotels in LopburiandLopburi Morning Marketas well asRiding the Free Train from Lopburi CityThank you.

For me, Lopburi is a city with simple charm, unique stories, and flavors. I will definitely visit again.