Lavo (Thai: ละโว้) Mueang Ling (lit. City of Monkeys)
Motto:
วังนารายณ์คู่บ้าน ศาลพระกาฬคู่เมือง ปรางค์สามยอดลือเลื่อง เมืองแห่งดินสอพอง เขื่อนป่าสักชลสิทธิ์เกริกก้อง แผ่นดินทองสมเด็จพระนารายณ์ ("King Narai's Palace, the pride of the land; San Phra Kan Shrine, the guardian of the city; Phra Prang Sam Yot, renowned through time; the land of Dinso Phong; Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, a resounding landmark; the golden realm of King Narai.")
Lopburi is a significant province historically, where many historical structures, artifacts, and prehistoric settlements have been discovered. In the past, Lopburi was called by the nameLavo.The kingdom had been ruled by anabsolute monarch.
Known as Lavo during much of its history, Lopburi probably dates to prehistoric times.[6] The name Lavo originated from the capital city ofLavo kingdom, an ancientMon kingdom of theDvaravati period (6th–11th century CE).[7] The conqueringKhmer 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 ofSukhothai and laterAyutthaya.
During the Ayutthaya period, KingRamathibodi I sent PhraRamesuan (later King Ramesuan) as theUparaja to reign in Lopburi. In 1666 KingNarai the Great ordered anew palace built on the east bank of theLopburi River and made Lopburi the second capital of the country, as Ayutthaya was threatened by theDutch. After King Narai died, the city was almost abandoned and fell into ruin.
In 1856 KingMongkut of the Chakri dynasty ordered King Narai's palace to be renovated. The city finally regained its importance in 1937, when Field MarshalPlaek 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 ofWorld War II.[8]
Lopburi is on the east side of theChao Phraya River valley, between theLopburi River andPa Sak Rivers. Thirty percent of the area of the province, including most ofTha Wung district, the southwestern parts ofMueang Lopburi andBan Mi districts are a very lowalluvial plain. The other 70 percent is mixed plains and hills, with thePhetchabun Mountains forming the eastern boundary of the province towards theKhorat Plateau. The total forest area is 962 km2 (371 sq mi) or 14.8 percent of provincial area.[9]
Lopburi province has atropical 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.[11]
Theescutcheon of Lopburi shows Vishnu 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.[13]
The slogan of the province isKing Narai's Palace, the pride of the land; San Phra Kan Shrine, the guardian of the city; Phra Prang Sam Yot, renowned through time; the land of Dinso Phong; Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, a resounding landmark; the golden realm of King Narai.
The province is subdivided into 11 districts (amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 122 sub-districts (tambon) and 1,126 villages (muban).
As of 26 November 2019 there are:[15] one Lopburi Provincial Administrative Organization (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).
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 intraditional Thai clothes throughout the province and there is a sound and light performance at theKing Narai's Palace in the evening. This fair is promoted byTourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).[17][18]
Monkey Buffet Festival (เทศกาลโต๊ะจีนลิง): Annuallybuffet held during November for herd ofmacaques 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.[19]
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 theChinese New Year period and has been very popular, especially fromThai people of Chinese descent.[20]
Province Lopburi, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.65297 is "somewhat high", occupies place 23 in the ranking.
Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using theHuman 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.[3]
^ab"ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF)" [Human Achievement Index Databook year 2022 (PDF)]. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) (in Thai). Retrieved12 March 2024, page 65{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^"ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562" [Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019]. Royal Forest Department (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved6 April 2021, information, Forest statistics Year 2019{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^"ตาราง 5 พื้นที่เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่า พ.ศ. 2562" [Table 5 Wildlife Sanctuary Areas in 2019](PDF). Department of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Plant Conservation (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved1 November 2022.