Travels in Thailand (Lopburi)

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If you've ever visited the Angkor ruins outside of Siem Reap, then you'll recognize the ruins at Prang Sam Yod. This massive stone santuary was founded in the 13th century by the Khymer King Jayavarman Vll, the ruler who built many of Angkor Wat's most famous temples and palaces. Like a lot of the temples at Angkor, Prang Sam Yod was originally a Hindu temple with the three stone steeples or prangs representing the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Visnu, and Silva. The Thais later converted it to a Buddhist temple.

An added attraction to this place is the numerous monkeys which run all over the ruins which is why the place is referred to as the Lopburi Monkey Temple. There were well over a hundred of the creatures when we visited the ruins. They also have the run of the town and are even hanging from the electrical lines as well as on the telephone poles. The buildings have mesh screens in order to keep them outside. Inside the ruins are bats hanging from the ceilings. There's also a large statue of Buddha inside the ruins.

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