Thailand Festivals and Events 2012

Sunflowers have become a popular seasonal attraction in Lop Buri Province, lying 154 kilometers north of Bangkok. Each year, a large number of tourists, especially flower lovers, travel to this province to view vast fields of sunflowers in full bloom.

This year, the Lop Buri Sunflower Festival began in November and will continue until February next year. The sunflower is yellow and its bright color has become a magnet for tourists. Lop Buri residents join hands in making every place in the province yellow during the festival. Originally, Thai people grew sunflowers as decorative plants. Later, they extracted oil from sunflower seeds, which have also become a favorite snack for many. Today, the sunflower is regarded as a cash crop in Lop Buri. This crop is also grown in abundance in the nearby province of Saraburi. It can be grown in all climatic conditions. According to the Lop Buri Agriculture Office, sunflowers now cover 300,000 rai, or 12,000 acres, of farmland in Lop Buri.

The best places to visit during this festival are the districts of Phatthana Nikhom, Chai Badan, and Khok Samrong. The State Railway of Thailand offers a special train service for a day trip to Pasak Jolasid Dam on weekends and public holidays. Near the dam, visitors will see a magnificent sunflower field. In addition to natural beauty, they will also enjoy other places of interest in this province.

Lop Buri is an ancient city dating back to the Dvaravati period, around the 9th to the 11th century. The slogan of the province is “The city of King Narai’s Palace, Phra Kan Shrine, Three Pagodas, soft white clay, and the golden land of King Narai.”

King Narai the Great of Ayutthaya, who ruled the Thai kingdom from 1656 to 1688, ordered the construction of a palace in Lop Buri. The palace, referred to as Narai Ratchaniwet, or Lop Buri Palace, was the venue where King Narai received French ambassadors. It is now the National Museum of Lop Buri. This old palace was built in the mixture of Thai and Western architectural styles. King Narai resided at this palace for eight or nine months each year and returned to Ayutthaya during the rainy season.

Aware of the dangers of foreign invasion, as Ayutthaya was located close to the sea, King Narai decided to develop Lop Buri as the second capital of the kingdom, with the help of French architects. The King Narai’s Reign Fair takes place each year in February as a cultural event of Lop Buri to celebrate the glorious days of the reign.

Lop Buri boasts many cultural and natural attractions. Among them are the Three Pagodas, a symbol of Lop Buri. Pasak Jolasid Dam has emerged as a popular day trip for many tourists. The cool season is the best time to catch a glimpse of the amazing sunflower fields found in all areas of this province. (The Government Public Relations Department)