The city of Lopburi, about 150 kilometers north of Bangkok, has been continuously inhabited since the Dvaravati period in the 6th or 7th century. Subsequently part of the Khmer Empire, it has been in Thai hands since the 13th century. The Lopburi National Museum holds extensive artifacts representing all of these periods.
Touring the Sites
There are a few sites to see around the old section of town, most which can be covered in a walking tour. In the mid-1600's, Lopburi was designated as a second capital at the time the Dutch were blockading Ayutthaya. A palace was built, left to ruin after only brief use, then restored in the 1800's.
The building is open to the public and includes such interesting (though perhaps outdated) features as elephant stables and harem residence quarters.
The city also hosts a wealth of temples and temple ruins, some dating back as far as the 12th century.
