King Narai's Palace
During his reign in the late 17th century, King Narai briefly moved the Siamese capital to Lopburi. It's no surprise then that the royal palace in this town rivaled those in Ayutthaya for size and grandeur. The palace fell into disuse after Narai's death, but experienced a brief revival during the 19th century reign of King Rama IV, who again used the palace as a sort of summer home.
Within the thick outer walls of the palace are the remains of warehouses, elephant corrals and reception halls. Behind these components of the outer court lies the buildings of the inner court. The centerpiece is the Chanthara Phisan Pavilion, now housing an exhibition about King Narai's pivotal reign in Siamese history. Next to the pavilion is the colonial styled Phiman Mongkut Hall, now housing the Somdej Phra Narai branch of the National Museum. The museum houses one of the best collections of Lopburi Buddha images, as well as art from all the periods of Lopburi's history.
Admission Fees
The palace grounds are open daily. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday only. Admission is 30 Baht.
