November in Thailand: Lopburi Monkey Buffet Festival 2024
Every year, on the last weekend in November, Lopburi celebrates a festival in honour of the monkeys. The programme is simple: a giant buffet of fruit and vegetables in the ruins of ancient Khmer temples.
History of the Lopburi Monkey Festival
The town of Lopburi is known for two things: its Khmer temples and the inhabitants of the temples, the monkeys. There are several hundred of them living in the town. According to legend, Lopburi was built by two deities: Rama and Hanuman. The latter has the appearance of a monkey. For the locals, these monkeys are descendants of Hanuman, which makes them sacred in the eyes of many.
In fact, the monkeys enjoy a degree of protection and can count on the generosity of the locals, who, by feeding them, attract the goodwill of the spirits.
This belief is behind the Monkey Buffet Festival. In 1989, a wealthy man wanted to increase his chances of making a fortune. The idea was simple: to offer a huge banquet to all the monkeys in the city. He did well, because the festival soon attracted a large number of tourists. The story doesn’t say whether the businessman is really very rich, but in any case, the festival attracts more and more people every year.
Monkey Buffet Festival 2024
The festival takes place on Saturday. All day long, you can watch dances, various demonstrations and enjoy food and craft stalls. At midday, it’s the moment the macaques have been waiting for: the buffet!
But not just any buffet: over two tonnes of fruit (bananas, watermelons, papayas, mangoes, etc.), vegetables (cucumbers, corn, etc.) as well as sticky rice, traditional Thai desserts and (non-alcoholic) drinks. In short, everything that monkeys usually love to steal from the bags of tourists visiting Khmer temples.
Practical information about the Monkey Buffet Festival
When is the Lopburi Monkey Festival?
The festival takes place on the last Saturday or Sunday in November: Sunday 24 November 2024.
To cater for both spectators and monkeys, there are usually four buffets: 10.00, 12.00, 14.00 and 16.00.
Where does the Lopburi Monkey Festival take place?
The festival takes place mainly around the Phra Prang Sam Yod temple (https://goo.gl/maps/nx59FSppom7GjDnG8).
Where to stay during the Monkey Festival
Lopburi doesn’t have many hotels, so it’s best to book your accommodation during this event. Below is our selection of the best hotel deals:
How much does it cost to enter the Monkey Festival?
The festival is free.
For those wishing to stay overnight during the festival weekend in Lopburi, it is essential to book your hotel well in advance. It is also possible to make a round trip from Bangkok to Lopburi during the day by train.
Two local specialities to try during the Lopburi festival
- Sweet: Coconut jelly with ice and syrups.
- Savoury: Khai Khem Din So Phong, an egg covered with a mixture of water, salt and sugar. It’s a fairly well-known recipe, but is available in large quantities during the festival.
The essential guide to Lopburi, so you don’t miss a thing!
