Lopburi City Bicycle Track 1

This bicycle tour has been designed to take you around the most important sites in Lopburi. Lopburi was an important ancient city initially known as Lavo. The Yonok Chronicles stated that Phra Chao Kalvanadith (King Kalavarnadish) from Taxila founded the City of Lavo in 648 CE in the territory of the Mon Dvaravati Kingdom. During the reign of King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century, the area in the Menam Basin centred on Lopburi came under the Khmer Empire. The Khmer outpost became a powerful centre. Witnesses of this period are Phra Prang Sam Yot, the Phra Kan shrine, Wat Nakhon Kosa and Prang Khaek. The Khmer Empire started to wane at the end of the 12th century, and its centre in the Meanam basin also weakened. In the middle of the 13th century, the region gained its independence. For a long time, Lopburi was associated with the Angkorian civilisation and was the major regional centre of Theravada Buddhist learning. With the founding of Ayutthaya in 1351 CE by Uthong, Lopburi lost its prominence. During the reign of King Narai (1656-1688 CE), it became again a royal capital. Most of the architecture of that time reflects the mixture of Thai and Western styles. Remnants of this period are the Narai Ratchaniwet Palace, the Vichayen House, Wat Phra Si Rattana Maha That, the Chai Chana Songkram Fortress and the Phra Thinang Yen.

The bicycle track is 9.5 Km long and is paved all the way.

If you are interested in viewing photographs of the temples in advance or would like additional historic information about these ruins, visit our website at www.ayutthaya-history.com.

In case of emergency or accident:
Contact the Lopburi Tourist Police Station: (036) 424515 or 1155.

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