Lampang Province

Elephants at Elephant's School, Lampang Province, Thailand


Wat Phrathat Lampangluang
Wat Phrathat Lampangluang
Lies some 20 kilometers south of Lampang and is one of the North's finest temples. The chedi towers above surrounding trees. To the left of the chedi is a viharn with a carved wood facade and double-level roofs. Harmonious proportions and exquisite interior decoration make Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang one of the best examples of Northern-style religious architecture.
The mural paintings in the assembly hall, called the Nam Tam Vihara, of the Wat Phrathat Lampangluang are believed to date back 400 to 500 years. A Vihara is an edifice that houses a temple's main Buddha image. The Vihara of the Lanna period featured a unique architecture; only the top half had walls, the inside of which is covered with mural paintings, and the Nam Tam Vihara is no exception. Its architectural style had been popular since the time of King Tikaloklasha of the Lanna Empire.
Although most of the mural paintings are blurred, some leaving only the red background and traces of the figures, the painting are worth studying for the method using only natural material, for example soot for black and red from lac insects.
Worth attention is the mural depicting the Nang Samavatti story, a folk tale adapted from Buddhist scriptures. It features a noble man, a god-king wearing a loin cloth would high and funnel shaped like the ornament on his head, and a woman wearing gold leaves and large holes on her ear-lobes typical of Lanna women. The paintings depict the style of Lanna dressing in the mid-1400's.

Wat Phrathat Chom Ping is situated at Mu 5, Ban Chom Ping, Tambon Na Kaeo, Amphoe Ko Kha about 26 kms. south-west of Lampang provincial city. The unnatural happening of this temple is the shade of the pagoda reflexed on the floor of the convocation hall through the hole of its window, this similar event also happened at Wat Akkho Chai Khiri, Amphoe Chae Hom in Lampang.

Doi Khuntan National Park
This Park is located within Lampang and Lamphun, has an area of 225 square kilometres and an altitude of of 1,272 meters. Access to the park is possible by taking Lampang - Lamphun highway and branching off at Km.47 for 18 kms., but the easiest way is by train to Khuntan station. The Doi Khuntan area was first explored early this century when German engineers were excavating Thailand's longest tunnel (some 1.3 kilometers)on the Bangkok - Chiang Mai railway line. The main trail climbs from Khuntan station to park headquarters and bungalows belonging to the State Railways, a missionary part and the Royal Forestry Department.
Camping sites are also available; campers must bring their own tents and the camping equipment.

Wat Sichum
This monastery is situated on Lampang-Ngao Highway just passing the main entrance of Lampang Teacher's Training College and branching off at km. 601 on the left to this monastery. Its architecture is of Myanma arts having very sophisticated and beautiful wood carvings on the structure of the Vihara while gold gilded works are found on the walls, ceiling and big pillars in the Vihara, regarded as another exquisite graceful beauty of Myanma arts. Its is regrettable that the vihara's upper part which was made of wood was mostly damaged by fire. Only the carved-wood arch at the entrance has been left.

Tham Pha Thai Forest Park
Lies at kilometer 665 on the Lampang-Ngao Road and hosts a big Buddha image and colourful stalagmites.

Kiu Lom Dam and Reservior
It is located about 37 kms. from the township area on Lampang-Ngao Highway where a left turn is to be made at Km. 623-624 through another 14 kms. to the dam site. The dam is under the administration of the Royal Irrigation Department, open to the public everyday from 06.00-18.00 hrs. but no accommodation provided. Another mean is from the private sector whose bungalows and pleasant rafts tour are available for visitors who wish to explore natural surrounding.

Chao Pho Pratu Pha Shrine
This shrine is located 50 kms. from Lampang township area on the right hand side of Lampang-Ngao Highway. It is a big spirit shrine housing the statue of Chao Pho Pratu Pha (the spirit ruling the area of Pratu Pha) highly revered by Lampang inhabitants. The shrine was constructed in commemoration of a brave soldier who was the right hand of a king of Lampang who was killed in a battle by the Myanma enemies at this Pratu Pha Pass.

Ban Sao-nak
Located in the centre of Lampang city. Ban Sao-nak is a teak wood house in a combination of northern Thai and Myanma architectural styles which is distinctive and individual with its 116 teak pillars. It is a private residence of Khunying Valai Leelanuj, the principal of Lampang Kallayanee School where Khan Toke Dinner and Northern performances are shown to tourist on special request. Contact Tel. (054) 21754O for more detail.

Information
: Tourism Authority of Thailand Tourist Service Center
: TAT Northern Office : Region 1
105/1 Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd., Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai 50000
Tel.: (66 53) 248-604, 248-607, 241-466; Fax: (66 53) 248-605
E-mail : tatcnx@samart.co.th
Area of Responsibility : Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang and Mae Hong Son
: Hotel & Resorts in Lampang


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