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This province covers
an area of 12,534 square kilometers whereby the provincial capital
is approximately 100 kilometers south of Chiang Mai and
600 kilometers north of Bangkok. Visitors regards Lampang as a smaller version of Chiang Mai but
more peaceful and relaxed, and many grand
temples built from teak are located here.
Lampang enjoys fame
as the only Thai provincial capital in which
horse-drawn carriages are an everyday mode of
transport and for its Elephant Conservation
Centre, some 35 kilometers north of the provincial
capital, which provides medical care and
training young elephants. Each year, generally during February,
the Centre organizes a fund-raising Elephant Satoke Fair
and this is the best place for elephant rides
and watching elephant bathing shows.
The provincial
capital contains several Burmese-style temples
of note. Lampang's oldest temple, Wat Lampang
Luang, entirely rebuilt during the 1500's, is
believed to be the sole remaining part of a
fortressed city that thrived more than a
millennium ago, and which was probably founded
by Queen Chamma Thewi of the neighboring
Hariphunchai kingdom. The queen is believed to
have had two sons, one of whom became the king
of Lamphun, the other the king of Lampang. The
temple is considered to be one of the finest
examples of northern Thai religious architecture
and contains fine examples of northern
wood-carving built by Burmese and Shan artisans.
Legend has it that
the temple was occupied more than 200 years ago
by Burmese invaders, who were expelled when Thai
soldiers who crept through drains to surprise
and overwhelm the enemy. The provincial capital,
some 20 kilometers distant, is noteworthy for
Burmese-style temples which clearly illustrate
the cultural influences of Thailand's powerful
neighbor had throughout Lanna Thai.
Such enclaves
include Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao temple, whose
multi-roofed chapel dates from the late 1700's,
and Wat Chedi Sao temple, where twenty white
Burmese-style pagodas comprise major
architectural features. Other temples worthy of
mentioning are the Wat Si Rong Meuang and Wat Si
Chum. The Kiu Lom Dam, some 38
kilometers from the provincial capital on the Lampang-Ngao Highway, has a scenic reservoir
with bungalow and raft accommodation. The 225 square
kilometers Doi Khuntan National Park and Chae Son
National Park offer scenic exhilaration and
waterfalls and hot spa facilities respectively.
Lampang is
conveniently accessible by road, rail and air
from Bangkok and Chiang Mai whereby buses can be
taken from the Arcade bus station in Chiang Mai.
There are also buses from Lamphun to Lampang.
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