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Lampang Province

Geography

Lampang is located in the broad river valley of the Wang River, surrounded by mountain chains. In the Mae Mo district lignite is found and mined in open pits. To the north of the province is the 1697 m high Doi Luang.

Within the province are the national parks Tham Pha Thai, Chae Son, Doi Khun Than, as well as the Huay Tak Teak Biosphere Reserve.

Wang River in Lampang City

Economy

Lampang is famous for the production of ceramic goods and its mining operations. A great deal of ball clay, china stone, and lignite are extracted from the surrounding mountains.

There are more than 200 ceramic factories in and around Mueang Lampang. Most of ceramic factories are small to medium size operations mainly producing novelties (plant pots, dolls), tablewares, and building materials (tiles, railings), etc.

The largest power plant in Thailand is located in Mae Mo district near the lignite mining area. The plant uses the abundant lignite as fuel. The largest concrete plant is also situated north of Mueang Lampang. This is also powered by lignite. Limestone is another abundant mineral mined in Lampang.

The agricultural products that this province is famous for, are rice and pineapples.

History

Starting in the 7th century Lampang was part of the Dvaravati period Haripunchai kingdom of the Mon. In the 11th century the Khmer empire occupied the Lampang area, but it was King Mengrai of Lannathai who incorporated the complete Haripunchai kingdom into his kingdom in 1292. Lampang or Nakhon Lampang or Lakhon, was under the Burmese rule after the fall of Lannathai Kingdom from the sixteenth century to eighteenth century. During the uprising against Burmese rule by Siam's new kings in the late eighteenth century, a Lampang's local leader became Siam's ally. After the victory, the leader was named to be the ruler of Chiangmai, the former center of Lannathai, while his relative ruled Lampang. The city continues to be one of the most important economic and political centers in the north. Lampang was announced as a province in Thailand in 1892.

Phra That Lampang Luang, Amphoe Ko Kha

Symbols

The provincial seal shows a white rooster inside the entrance to the Phra That Lampang Luang temple. According to local legend, Buddha visited the province in his lifetime. The god Indra worried that the people would not get up by themselves to show respect to Buddha, and therefore woke them by transforming himself into a white rooster.

The provincial flower is the Heliconia (Heliconia sp.), and the provincial tree is the Indian Elm (Holoptelea integrifolia). According to the legend, this tree was planted in the temple during Buddha's visit.

Administrative divisions

The province is subdivided in 13 districts (amphoe). These are further subdivided into 100 communes (tambon) and 855 villages (muban).

Mueang Lampang

Mae Mo

Ko Kha

Soem Ngam

Ngao

Chae Hom

Wang Nuea

Thoen

Mae Phrik

Mae Tha

Sop Prap

Hang Chat

Mueang Pan

Tourism

Sights

Kaeo Don Tao () - it used to be the place where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined (the same statue now installed in Bangkok). Interesting structures include the large Chedi containing the hair of the Lord Buddha, a Burmese-style Mondop, an ancient Viharn and a museum exhibiting ancient relics of the Lanna era.

To the west of town is Wat Si Rong Mueang () - a Burmese temple built in 1905 during the time when Lampang was the commercial and forestry centre. Major architectural works include the Viharn made of wood with several overlapping gables in the Burmese style.

Built during the reign of King Rama IV by Burmese, Wat Pa Fang () has a large, glittering gold Chedi containing a Holy Relic brought over from Myanmar around 1906. The extensive Sala Kan Parian (preaching hall) is made entirely of wood with Burmese-style overlapping roofs.

Almost across Wat Pa Fang is Wat Chai Mongkhon () - notable is the Kuti (monk's living quarters) which is a white cement building with Burmese-style wooden roof. Inside is housed a bronze Buddha statue of fine workmanship cast in Mandalay, Myanmar.

About 5 kilometres from town on the Lampang-Chae Hom road is Wat Chedi Sao Lang () - cool and shaded by large trees, the temple has twenty chedis in its compound, each made in the combined Lanna-Burmese style. A Chiang Saen-style bronze Buddha statue is also enshrined here, commonly referred to as "Phra Chao Than Chai" by the local people.

Wat Phra That Mon Phaya Chae () - is situated on a hillside and it affords a clear view of Lampang. Its most outstanding feature is the long stair leading to the chedi enshrining a Holy Relic.

Wat Phra That Sadet () - one of Lampang's major sites, it is believed to have been built by Queen Chamthevi some 500 years ago.

Kiu Lom Dam () is about 38 kilometres from town.

Baan Sao Nak () is old teak house,lanna style with 116 pillars,more than 105 years.

Thanon Talat Kao or Thanon Talat Chin or Thanon Khon Doen at Kongta ( ) is a market next to the pier. In the past, it was a prosperous market. The buildings on both sides of the river bank are a combination of European, Chinese and Burmese architectural styles. Thanon Khon Doen, at Kongta presents a local lifestyle of the Kat Kongta community.

Wat Phra That Lampang Luang () - a paradigm of temple building of Lanna. The temple itself is prominently sited on a hillock surrounded by walls. The entrance arches, called Pratu Khong (), is adorned with fine plaster designs. The wall-less main Viharn houses a bronze Buddha statue called the Phra Chao Lan Thong ().

Wat Phra That Chom Ping () - The amazing aspect of this temple is the natural-coloured reflection of the Phrathat passing through the hole of the window and appearing on the floor inside the Phra Ubosot all the time when there is light, both during the day and at night (see Camera obscura).

Thai Elephants Conservation Centre () - It is the only facility in the world devoted to the training of elephants for timber work using these pachyderms as laborers. There are performances and training demonstrations.

The Khun Than mountain range of the Doi Khun Than National Park () forms a natural boundary between Lamphun and Lampang provinces. The mountain has both virgin jungle and pinery.

Chao Pho Pratu Pha Shrine () - Legend has it that Chao Pho Pratu Pha was a great warrior of the Lampang ruler. He once fought Burmese invaders to block their advance at Pratu Pha and died fighting with his two swords still in his hands and his body still leaning against the hillside. To honour the brave warrior, the people build the shrine which has since become a sacred and revered place of worship.

Tham Pha Thai National Park () is located between Mueang Lampang and Ngao districts just off the main highway at km.665-666, some 60 kilometres from the provincial town.

Ban Chang Luang ( ) is a facility established by Khru Kam-aye Dejduangta ( ). It has an extensive collection of wood-carvings made by Kru Kam-aye himself and serves as a school to train those intending to become artisans and to provide occupations for the local people.

A major place for relaxation in Lampang is the Chae Son National Park () which is located in Mueang Pan district area. It features a lush forested and mountainous region with a 73 Celsius hot spring over rocky terrain, providing a misty and picturesque scene, particularly in the morning.

Namtok Wang Kaeo () is Lampang's largest waterfall.

Local Products

Hand-made Cotton () comes in different patterns designed by different villages.

Wood-carving () is a major industry at Tambon Na Khrua of Mae Tha district which is about 25 kilometres from the provincial town. Most of the local people make their living by producing wooden figures of animals in various sizes. It has been a cottage industry in this locality for generations.

Terra-cotta or Ceramics () produced in Lampang are of the best quality in Thailand. The indigenous clay, added by the local craftsmanship, has helped to make Lampang the centre of such products, with scores of factories and shops dealing in this beautiful craft.

Sa Paper () is a fine product made from a type of soft wood. The process is purely traditional and the major producing center is the village of Ban Nam Thong. The Sa is mainly made into parasols, lampshades, decorative flowers and other souvenir items.

Culture

Festivals

Luang Wiang Lakhon Fair () is held just prior to the annual Loi Krathong event around Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao and Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, featuring Lampang's own historical backgrounds and long-established customs and traditions. A Khrua Than procession is organized with local people dressed in native attires carrying various traditional household appliances, some of which are of ancient vintage.

Khantok Chang Fair ( ) is organised on the first Friday-Saturday period of February each year at the Thai Elephant conservation Centre. There is an elephant show and the pachyderms are feasted with their popular fruits and vegetables which are placed on the Tok, a traditional food tray of the Lanna people.

Lampang Trains and Horse Carriages Day () is organized at the Nakhon Lampang Railway Station at the beginning of April to commemorate the first royal train that arrived to the station 1 April, 1916. In the event, there will be an exhibition and Kat Mua market, where the participants will dress up in the traditional style of costume of some 80 years ago, when the horse carriage was first used in Lampang. The carriage service is also provided in the event.

Salung Luang Procession and Songkran Festival () is the unique Songkran festival of Lampang, organized during 12-14 April every year. On the 12 April, the Salung Luang procession will be beautifully decorated (Salung means a water bowl and Luang means large). The participants in the parade will dress up in the ancient Lanna style and carry a giant silver bowl around the city to receive lustral water soaked with turmeric and acacia from the people to be poured onto the Phra Kaeo Don Tao, the revered Buddha image of the town enshrined at Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang. Then, during 13-14 April every year, there will be a merit making ceremony at the temple, sand pagoda making, ceremony of pouring water onto the elderly, splashing of water, fairs and various forms of entertainment.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lampang Province

Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand

Golden Jubilee Network province guide

Lampang provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp

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Provinces of Thailand

Capital: Bangkok

North

Chiang Mai  Chiang Rai  Lampang  Lamphun  Mae Hong Son  Nan  Phayao  Phrae  Uttaradit

North-East

Amnat Charoen  Buri Ram  Chaiyaphum  Kalasin  Khon Kaen  Loei  Maha Sarakham  Mukdahan  Nakhon Phanom  Nakhon Ratchasima  Nong Bua Lamphu  Nong Khai  Roi Et  Sakon Nakhon  Si Sa Ket  Surin  Ubon Ratchathani  Udon Thani  Yasothon

Central

Ang Thong  Chachoengsao  Chai Nat  Kamphaeng Phet  Lop Buri  Nakhon Nayok  Nakhon Pathom  Nakhon Sawan  Nonthaburi  Pathum Thani  Phetchabun  Phichit  Phitsanulok  Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya  Samut Prakan  Samut Sakhon  Samut Songkhram  Saraburi  Sing Buri  Sukhothai  Suphan Buri   Uthai Thani

East

Chanthaburi  Chonburi  Prachin Buri  Rayong  Sa Kaeo  Trat

West

Kanchanaburi  Phetchaburi  Prachuap Khiri Khan  Ratchaburi  Tak

South

Chumphon  Krabi  Nakhon Si Thammarat  Narathiwat  Pattani  Phang Nga  Phatthalung  Phuket  Ranong  Satun  Songkhla  Surat Thani  Trang  Yala

Coordinates: 184144.46 994332.33 / 18.6956833N 99.7256472E / 18.6956833; 99.7256472

Categories: Lampang Province | Provinces of Thailand
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