Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, Lampang Province

Wat Phra That Lampang Luang

Lampang is approximately 600 km from Bangkok. The city is an important highway hub, with a 4 lane divided highways link to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, as well as major highway to Phrae and eastern Lanna provinces. Lampang is a major stop for the Chiang Mai bound train, approximately 10 hours from Bangkok. Lampang Airport is currently served by PB Air, which operate daily flights to Bangkok via Phitsanulok

Sights

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 the 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.

Kaeo Don Tao 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.

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.

A major place for relaxation in Lampang is the Chae Son National Park which is located in Mueang Pan district area having 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.

Local Products

Handmade 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.

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 to 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, 13, 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 and 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.

credit : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lampang Province