Lopburi Province

Lop Buri (Thai: ลพบุรี) is ane o the central provinces (changwat) o Thailand. Neighborin provinces are (frae north clockwise) Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Saraburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri an Nakhon Sawan.

Geography

Lop Buri is locatit on the east side o the Chao Phraya river valley, atween the Lopburi River an Pa Sak Rivers. 30% o the aurie o the province, includin maist o Tha Wung destrict, the soothwastren pairts o Mueang Lopburi an Ban Mi destricts are a very law alluvial plain. The rest 70% is intermixed atween plains an hills, wi the Phetchabun Muntains form the eastren bundary o the province towards the Khorat Plateau.

History

Kent as Lavo durin muckle o its history, Lopburi probably dates tae prehistoric times. The name Lavo oreeginatit in the Dvaravati period (6t tae 11t century C.E.). The conquerin Khmer wad build mony impressive temples in the ceety during its rule. Lopburi mey even hae liberatit itsel for a time, as it sent independent embassies tae Cheenae in 1115 an 1155. In 1289 it sent anither embassy tae Cheenae, but suin became pairt o the Thai kinrick o Sukhothai an later Ayutthaya.

Durin the Ayutthaya period, King Ramathibodi I sent Phra Ramesuan (later King Ramesuan) as the Uparaja tae reign in Lopburi. In 1665 King Narai the Great ordered a new palace built on the east bank o the Lopburi River an made Lop Buri the seicont caipital o the kintra, as Ayutthaya wis threatened bi the Dutch. Efter King Narai dee'd, the ceety wis amaist abandoned an fell intae ruin.

In 1856 King Mongkut o the Chakri dynasty ordered King Narai's Palace tae be renovatit. The ceety finally regained its importance in 1938, when Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram chose Lop Buri tae be the lairgest military base in Thailand.

Seembols

The provincial seal shows Vishnu in front o the Khmer temple Phra Prang Sam Yod.

The provincial tree as well as the provincial flouer is the Bullet Wood (Mimusops elengi).

The slogan o the province is Naitional Treasures o Keeng Narai’s Palace an Phra Kan Shrine, Famous Prang Sam Yot, Ceety o Din So Phong Marl, well-kent Pa Sak Jolasid Dam an Gowden Land o Keeng Narai the Great.

Admeenistrative diveesions

The province is subdividit intae 11 destricts (amphoe). The destricts are further subdividti intae 124 subdistricts (tambon) an 1110 veelages (muban).

Education