The party, which costs more than 100,000 baht ($3,000), is an annual tradition for locals to thank the monkeys for their part in attracting tourists to Lopburi, which is sometimes referred to as the “Monkey Province”. “.
“Today’s special is durian, which is very expensive. Lopburi monkeys like expensive things,” said Yongyuth Kitwatananusont, who has previously organized more than 30 monkey festivals.
The theme of this year’s festival is monkeys in wheelchairs, and Yongyuth has planned to give away 100 wheelchairs to those in need.
Tourists have slowly returned to Thailand after the government launched a quarantine-free travel plan for vaccinated tourists in November, and the festival has proven a popular draw.
Thailand had more than 100,000 domestic visitors in November, as high as the number of arrivals in the first 10 months of the year combined.
“It was quite unexpected and the monkeys were quite silly.”
Macaque monkeys gather outside the Phra Prang Sam Yod temple during the annual Monkey Buffet Festival in Lopburi province, north of Bangkok on November 28, 2021.
Jack Taylor / AFP / Getty Images
Macaque monkeys climb over a man as he serves them in the Thai desert outside the Phra Prang Sam Yod temple during the annual Monkey Buffet Festival in Lopburi province, north of Bangkok on November 28, 2021.
Jack Taylor / AFP / Getty Images
Some tourists have been seen playing with the monkeys with their cameras. The resumption of tradition also pleases the locals.
Thanida Phudjeeb said: ‘This is the first time in two years that monkeys have eaten all kinds of fruits and vegetables. “I’m happy for them.”
