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With its famous Monkey Buffet Festival, the town of Lopburi, which is tucked away in central Thailand, turns into a monkey paradise every November.
The Lopburi Monkey Buffet Festival features a macaque indulging in tropical delights.
Thailand, tucked away in the heart of Southeast Asia has established itself as a bucket list destination for every globe trotter due to its pristine beaches, rich biodiversity and authentic cuisine all while offering one of the world’s best shopping experiences. While visiting Thailand any time of the year is a magical adventure, doing so in the month of November allows tourists to immerse themselves in one of the world’s most eccentric yet adorable festival known as the Monkey Buffet Festival.
The making of the Monkey Buffet
The town of Lopburi is an attraction to many due to two factors, one being the historic Khmer ruins and the other is of course Monkeys. The festival commenced decades ago in 1989 and while to a layman the pictures may appear as if it’s a shot straight out of Planet of the apes, the significance that fuels this celebration of primates is actually inspired by Ramayana. According to lore, the city of Lopburi was built by two deities Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman, In the epic Lord Ram gifts Hanuman, the ‘City of Lopburi’ causing the residents to believe that the macaques are descendants of Lord Hanuman and hence a lucky symbol for the residents of city. This led to an event where a few decades ago a local businessman decided to honour these primates by throwing them a feast with every fruit and vegetable one can imagine laid out. However, what once started as a simple tradition is now a full-blown festival that is held on the last Sunday of November every year.
What awaits travelers at this offbeat festival
Apart from being immersed in what one can only call an unconventional gathering; tourists get to take in the beauty of the historic Khmer Ruins and the ancient Phra Prang Sam Yot Temple where the buffet is laid out, and it’s not just your regular buffet, the lavish feast happens at four times during the day and consists of not only of tons of fruits and veggies but also sticky rice, traditional Thai desserts and non-alcoholic drinks for the simians.
However, the festival isn’t just a day of celebration for the macaques, visitors too can indulge in sweet treats like coconut jelly with ice and syrup and the traditional Khai Khem Din So Phong, which is an egg covered with a mixture of water, salt and sugar and one of Thailand’s most popular savoury dishes. Additionally, tourists can dance the weekend away to traditional Lopburi tunes which combine ancient Thai melodies with the classical guitar while exploring the local craft and food stalls.
Essential tips for first time visitors
Firstly, the festival commences at noon when the first buffet is laid out and this year it will be held on the 24th of November. Next, there are unfortunately not many accommodation options in the city but if one hasn’t booked their stay well in advance fret not, as there are multiple trains that go from Bangkok to Lopburi thereby facilitating the perfect day trip.
Furthermore, the image of a thousand monkeys in your vicinity might induce anxiety in some regarding their safety, but it’s worth noting that there has been no incident reported where humans were put in harm’s way by these simians. Instead, the macaques of Lopburi are generally accustomed to humans therefore allowing them to enjoy the festival without any concerns.
What’s even more remarkable is the spirit of hospitality that defines Lopburi. The local people, known for their warmth and generosity, have made the conscious decision to keep the festival entrance free of charge and make it a November to Remember for both humans and monkeys alike!
