One of the most unusual festivals in Thailand, the Monkey Buffet Festival is highly entertaining and fun to watch, just be forewarned that these monkeys love to grab bags, wallets and gadgets!
The annual Monkey Buffet Festival is held in the city of Lopburi, one of the oldest cities of Thailand. The city was established during Dvaravati period from the 6th to the 10th centuries, and played a significant role during the Aruthaya period which was from 1350 and 1767. The city is right on the banks of the Lopburi River and enjoys a tropical savanna climate. The city is located about 180 kilometers from Bangkok the capital of Thailand. From Bangkok, you can take the train, bus or car.
Perfect for a quick getaway from Bangkok, Lopburi has numerous attractions including Lopburi Palace, Sub Lek Reservoir, Prang Khaek, Lopburi Zoo, and a number of temples. The city is now known for the hundreds of crab-eating macaques, a certain breed of monkeys that live in the city. They thrive in the old town of Lopburi particularly around the areas of Phra Prang Sam Yot and Phra Kaan Shrine. Because of these monkeys, thousands of foreign tourists travel to the city to enjoy the sights of hundreds of monkeys roaming freely. They might be cute but can also be annoying especially if they want to grab your personal belongings. To celebrate their existence, the Monkey Buffet Festival was established in 1989 which has become bigger and better as the years go by. It is held every November at the Khmer temple of Pra Prang Sam Yot where most of the monkeys live. Over 4,000 kilograms worth of food is served which includes vegetarian dishes prepared by top chefs, fruit salads, sticky rice, Thai desserts and all kinds of fruits, laid on long tables. Do be not to try and get their food or else they might get something back from you!
Watching the monkeys eat their heart out while taking pictures of them during the Monkey Buffet Festival is one unforgettable experience you must be able to enjoy! Book a trip to Thailand in November and have fun at the Monkey Buffet Festival.