San Phra Kan

San Phra Kan, Lop Buri

San Phra Kan ( Thai : ศาล พระ กาฬ or ศาล เจ้าพ่อ พระ กาฬ - San Chao Pho Phra Kan , other spelling Sarn Phra Karn ) is a shrine in the old town of Lop Buri , Lop Buri Province , central Thailand .

location

The San Phra Kan is opposite the Prang Sam Yot in the center of the old town of Lop Buri directly on the railway line Bangkok - Chiang Mai . Ban Wichayen , the residence of Constantine Phaulkon , is only 500 meters to the west, Phra Narai Ratcha Niwet , the palace of King Narai, is only 500 meters to the southwest.

Crab-eating macaques at the sanctuary

history

This ancient Khmer sanctuary was previously called San Sung (Thai: ศาลสูง ). It consists of a mound of large, stacked laterite blocks. On the hill are the remains of a square shrine with a porch accessible by stairs on all four sides. It is dated around the 11th century. A sandstone lintel from around the 12th century with a slumbering Vishnu was found here. An inscription in Mon script on an octagonal stone was also found.

In 1951 a pavilion was built in front of the sanctuary. It stands on the foundation of a meeting hall from the time of King Narai . Inside there is a statue with four arms, which is highly revered by the local population. The Lop-Buri-style statue was originally headless , it is said to represent the Hindu god Vishnu . The sandstone head of a Buddha statue in the style of the late Ayutthaya period was later placed on her.

Todays use

The fenced area is now used as a "monkey sanctuary". Here is the only place where the long-tailed macaques are allowed to be fed, which are otherwise only tolerated in the whole city, as they attract numerous tourists. An exception is the annual "Monkey Buffet Fair", where the monkeys are treated to an opulent buffet.

swell

• Brochure from TAT ( Tourism Authority of Thailand , Central Region Office: Region 7, Lop Buri) on Lop Buri Province

Web links

• Photos of the statue (text in Thai)

Coordinates: 14 ° 48 ′ 8 ″  N , 100 ° 36 ′ 54 ″  E