You probably know Lopburi, this city in the middle of Thailand, overrun by thousands of monkeys. But do you know why these crab-eating macaques have taken over the streets and temples of this ancient city? For those who don’t know, Lopburi is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, dating back to the 6th century. There, monkeys live freely in the city, especially around the Phra Prang Sam Yod temple, a 13th century Khmer-style monument. They are not afraid of humans, and often interact with locals and tourists, sometimes stealing their belongings or food. But why are there so many monkeys in Lopburi? And why are they tolerated and even revered by the people? It’s because of a legend that says the monkeys are related to Hanuman, the Monkey King. Hanuman is a god in Hinduism, and he helped another god named Rama to save his wife from the demon king Ravana. He also built a bridge from India to Sri Lanka with his monkey army, and he did many other amazing things. The legend says that some of Hanuman’s family came to Lopburi, and they became the ancestors of the monkeys that live there today. The people of Lopburi think that the monkeys are sacred and lucky, and that hurting them would make Hanuman angry and cause bad things to happen. So every year, on the last Sunday of November, the people of Lopburi throw a big party for the monkeys. They call it the Monkey Banquet. They give the monkeys a lot of food, like fruits, vegetables, cakes, ice cream, and soda. The festival attracts thousands of visitors who come to watch the spectacle of monkeys eating, playing, and fighting over the food.

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