Lopburi Monkey Buffet Festival

The festival began in 1989, the idea of a local hotel owner, Yongyuth Kitwattananusont, who wanted to thank the monkeys and bring visitors to town, and he still opens it each year. Lopburi's macaques have long been seen as lucky, linked to the monkey god Hanuman, and the banquet was a way to repay them.

The day starts with an opening ceremony, with dancers in monkey costumes and performances. Then the covers come off the tables and the monkeys pile in, climbing pyramids of watermelon, pineapple, durian and greens and stuffing their cheeks with fruit, sticky rice and Thai desserts while the crowd takes photos. There are usually four sittings through the day, at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00, so arrive by mid-morning and stay for a couple of them.

The festival's success helped the monkey population grow. There were about 2,000 macaques in town in 2007 and about 3,000 by 2024, by which time they were snatching bags, raiding homes and shops and fighting in gangs in the streets, and much of the old town around the temple had emptied of businesses. In 2024 the authorities launched a round-up and sterilization drive, catching 1,600 monkeys within five months, and began moving them to a shelter at Pho Kao Ton, beside Tha Hin police station southwest of the temple. Only a smaller, sterilized group is meant to stay around Phra Prang Sam Yot and San Phra Kan.

So the banquet you'll see now isn't the old one. Since the crackdown, the main event has been held at the monkey shelter, where hundreds of macaques live in large cages that animal welfare campaigners have criticized, while smaller events may still take place at the temple. Some visitors now find few monkeys at the ruins on an ordinary day. If the scene among the Khmer prangs is what you're after, set your expectations, and check the year's program with TAT Lopburi before you go.

Lopburi is 133 km north of Bangkok, about 2 hours by train, and it's on the same line as Ayutthaya, so the two pair well. Since 5 December 2025 every long-distance train calls at Lop Buri 2 (Tha Wung), outside the city, instead of the old-town station, so budget for a songthaew or taxi into town, and check which station your train uses when you book. Vans from Bangkok take about 2 hours 30, and a private car about 2 hours.

On festival day, go early. The first sitting is at 10:00, the old town fills with visitors, and you'll want to see the opening ceremony and get a spot before the crowds.

Lopburi's macaques are used to people and fearless about taking what they want. Carry nothing loose, no hats, sunglasses on your head, open bags or bottles in your hand, use a wrist strap on your camera or phone, and keep food and drinks out of sight. Don't feed them or touch them, and keep your distance when you take photos.

If a monkey bites or scratches you, wash the wound right away with plenty of soap and running water, then get medical care the same day, even if it looks minor, because of the risk of rabies.

Lopburi has only a small number of hotels and guesthouses, and they fill on festival weekend, so book early if you want to stay over. Most visitors come on a day trip from Bangkok or Ayutthaya, which has far more places to stay and is on the same railway line.