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Lop Buri Travel Guide :
Wat Khao Wongkhot and The Bat Cave
| It is believed that the town of Lop Buri in the Lop Buri Province has been in existence since pre-historic times. However, it came to the forefront in the 10th century when the Khmers captured Lawo (as Lop Buri was called then) and ruled over it. |
In 1664, King Narai, the Great, turned Lop Buri into another royal capital after building and designing a lot of palaces and temples with the help of French architects. This would explain why many of the old ruins have half Thai and half western influence. Today Lop Buri Province and town, located 153 kilometers north of Bangkok is a modern garrison town which is steeped in history and natural wonders.
When you visit Lop Buri, it is a must to visit to Wat Khao Wongkhot. This temple is located around 4 kilometers from Ban Mi City and covers an area of 30 rai. Wat Khao Wongkhot attracts people because it is built in the middle of 3 mountains and there is a reclining Buddha image enshrine at the base of Sanam Daeng Mountain. Visitors can also stop at the pavilion to see the embalmed body of Charoen Ditsawanno, a revered Buddhist monk, who was the former abbot of this temple. Charoen Ditsawanno passed away in 1963.
Within the precinct of Wat Khao Wongkhot is a bat cave, which is believed to be the largest in Lop Buri. Millions of bats dwell in the cave and it is quite an awe-inspiring view at 6 p.m. when all the bats leave the cave to look for food. It takes around 2 hours to empty the entire cave.
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