Lopburi is the oldest city in Thailand and is located Northeast of Bangkok. The city is also inhabited by thousands of macaque monkeys. The monkeys and humans in the city live together in harmony. The monkeys bring tourists to the area and the humans feed the monkeys to keep them from damaging their property.

There’s even a festival every year for the monkeys, on the last Sunday in November. This festival is to show gratitude and appreciation to the monkeys for bringing in tourism.

Different groups of monkeys

While walking to the Monkey Temple, I noticed that there were monkeys everywhere. There were a lot of monkeys in the streets, then when I got to the temple there was a lot on and near the Temple. My guide told me that there are different groups of monkeys; the monkeys that live on the Temple grounds and the monkeys that live in the streets. The street monkeys don’t go on the Temple grounds and the Temple monkeys don’t go in the street because they don’t get along.

Tips on what to do and not do

• Don’t wear anything shiny or that can easily be removed by a monkey. For instance; hat, sunglasses, necklace. Also don’t put bag or purse down, the monkeys will take it.
• You can feed them, there’s a store near the Temple where you can buy bananas and corn.
• Be careful when trying to feed them, the bigger monkeys will try to get the food, not allowing you to feed the smaller ones. Or if you’re able to give a smaller one food, the bigger one will try to take it from them. They will even follow you and grab at you to feed them.