The annual King Narai Festival will be held on 14-23 February in Thailand’s central Lopburi province. The event is an homage to King Narai the Great who reigned between 1656 and 1688 and is revered for having transformed Siam into a cultural, religious and diplomatic centre.
Highlights are plentiful and include a procession of floats, horses and elephants, a changing of the guards performance, a light-and-sound show, as well as a variety of other activities and entertainment.
A special “retro” market will be arranged to offer traditional Thai food and beverages in exchange for ‘ancient’ bullet money.
The nine-day celebration will start at 3:00 PM with a spectacular parade to be followed by the opening ceremony at 6:30 PM at King Narai’s Palace.
Visitors are also encouraged to take pictures against in the mesmerizing fields of sunflowers the province is famous for, with imposing karst rocks looming in the background.