Lopburi Province

Lopburi ลพบุรี
Province
Lopburi City Gate, from old to new city
Seal
Map of Thailand highlighting Lop Buri Province
Country	Thailand
Capital	Lopburi
Government
• Governor	Phanu Yaemsi (since October 2015)
Area
• Total	6,199.8 km2 (2,393.8 sq mi)
Area rank	Ranked 37th
Population (2014)
• Total	758,406
• Rank	Ranked 30th
• Density	120/km2 (320/sq mi)
• Density rank	Ranked 38th
HDI
• HDI (2009)	0.742 (medium) (35th)
Time zone	ICT (UTC+7)
Area code(s)	036
ISO 3166 code	TH-16
Vehicle registration	ลพบุรี

Lopburi (Thai: ลพบุรี, rtgs: Lop Buri, pronounced [lóp bū.rīː]) is a province in the central region of Thailand. The province is subdivided into 11 administrative districts, and Mueang Lopburi District is the capital. With over 750,000 people, the province is Thailand's 37th largest area and 38th most populous. There are six neighboring provinces, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Sing Buri, and Nakhon Sawan.

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 name Lavo, that is, the kingdom had been ruled by an absolute monarch.

History

Known as Lavo during much of its history, Lopburi probably dates to prehistoric times.^[1] The name Lavo originated in the Dvaravati period (6th–11th century CE). The conquering Khmer 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 of Sukhothai and later Ayutthaya.

During the Ayutthaya period, King Ramathibodi I sent Phra Ramesuan (later King Ramesuan) as the Uparaja to reign in Lopburi. In 1665 King Narai the Great ordered a new palace built on the east bank of the Lopburi River and made Lopburi the second capital of the country, as Ayutthaya was threatened by the Dutch. After King Narai died, the city was almost abandoned and fell into ruin.

In 1856 King Mongkut of the Chakri dynasty ordered King Narai's palace to be renovated. The city finally regained its importance in 1938, when Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram chose Lopburi to be the largest military base in Thailand.

Geography

Lopburi is on the east side of the Chao Phraya River valley, between the Lopburi River and Pa Sak Rivers. Thirty percent of the area of the province, including most of Tha Wung district, the southwestern parts of Mueang Lopburi and Ban Mi districts are a very low alluvial plain. The other 70 percent is mixed plains and hills, with the Phetchabun Mountains forming the eastern boundary of the province towards the Khorat Plateau.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows Vishnu in front of the Khmer temple Phra Prang Sam Yod.^[2]

The escutcheon of Lopburi shows Phra Narai 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.^[3]

The provincial tree as well as the provincial flower is the bullet wood.^[4]

The slogan of the province is National treasures of King Narai's palace and Phra Kan Shrine, famous Prang Sam Yot, city of Din So Phong Marl, well-known Pa Sak Cholasit Dam and golden land of King Narai the Great.

Administrative divisions

The province is subdivided into 11 districts (amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 124 sub-districts (tambon) and 1,110 villages (muban).

Education

• Thepsatri Rajabhat University
• Kasetsart University, Lopburi Campus
• Ramkhamhaeng University, Lopburi Campus

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lopburi Province.

• Website of province (Thai)
• Lopburi provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp Archived June 21, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.

Coordinates: 14°48′2″N 100°39′5″E / 14.80056°N 100.65139°E / 14.80056; 100.65139