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Wat Phra That Hariphunchai ( ) Sited in Mid-Town, It Was Built During the Reign of King Arthitayarat, a Descendant of Queen Chamthewi Some 800 Years Ago

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Wat Phra That Hariphunchai ( ) Sited in Mid-Town, It Was Built During the Reign of King Arthitayarat, a Descendant of Queen Chamthewi Some 800 Years Ago Amphoe Mueang Lamphun 01 - Wat Phra That Hariphunchai ( ) Sited in mid-town, it was built during the reign of King Arthitayarat, a descendant of Queen Chamthewi some 800 years ago. A principal landmark is the 46-metre tall golden Chedi whose present appearance was the result of the restoration work in 1443 by a king of Chiang Mai. It has long been regarded as a major place of worship. Other architectural works include the ancient-style brick arch adorned with fine designs and the pair of sculptured lions at the door. There are also a square-shaped Chedi and a Khmer-style Buddha statue. 02 - Hariphunchai National Museum ( ). Located on Inthayongyot Road almost opposite Wat Phra That Hariphunchai it displays and exhibits include historical development and archaeological items found in Lamphun. These include prehistorical human skeletons and objects of arts from the Dvaravati, Hariphunchai, Lanna and Rattanakosin periods. A chamber is devoted to a collection of inscription stones in Mon and Lanna scripts. Another displays ancient utensils, Lanna indigenous arts and carvings. The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. 03 - Phra Nang Chamthewi Statue ( ) Located in the Nong Dok public park in town commemorating the first ruler of Hariphunchai. 04 - Suthewa Rusi Statue ( ) In front of the Town Hall, the Legend has it that the Rusi, or ascetic, was the actual founder of Hariphunchai. As an ascetic refraining from worldly affairs he invited Phra Nang Chamthevi, a daughter of the King of Lopburi, to ascend the throne and helped her to firmly establish Buddhism in the land. 05 - Wat Chamthewi or Wat Ku Kut ( ), Commonly referred to a Ku Kut ( ), it is located on the Lamphun-San Pa Tong Road and built in 1298 B.E. in the Lawo (Lopburi) style. The Chedi is a square structure similar to Buddhagaya in India. Around the Chedi are levels of arches holding a total of 60 Buddha statues. Ashes of the queen are enshrined within the Chedi. 06 - Wat Mahawan ( ), On the road parallel to the old city wall to the west of town it is an old temple built since the times of Queen Chamthewi. Enshrined here is a Nak Prok statue (statue with mythical serphants overhead) which was brought to the temple by the Queen. Commonly known as Phra Rot Lamphun ( ), it serves as the model for the famous votive tablet. 07 - Wat Phra Yun ( ). An interesting temple, Wat Phra Yun, is about 1.5 km (1 mi.) north of Lamphun on the far bank of the Menam Kuang. It was built by King Kuna in 1369 for the scholar monk Sumana; in the early 16th c. a chedi was erected over the ruins of the mondhop that held the relic referred to earlier. The figures of Buddha in the upper niches are mostly copies. A sandstone in the courtyard bears an inscription in Pali and Thai announcing the arrival of the holy Sumana. The wiharn, containing three 16th c. standing Buddhas, the bot with beautiful gilded carving on the portal side, and the elegant library, all date from around 1900. 21 - The Ku Chang-Ku Mah Chedi ( - ) Another ancient site related to the old history of the town. At the temple is surrounded on four directions by standing statues. The Chedi itself is cylinder-shaped and commemorates Queen Chamthewi's war elephant and her son's steed. 08 - The Ban Nong Chang Khun ( ) It is the most famous longan growing area in the country. The orchards are located some 8 kilometres before Lamphun and with a further 7 kilometres after a right turn. On both sides of the road are numerous longan orchards. The fruits are in season during July-August. Longans were introduced to the area during the reign of King Rama V and have since spread into neighbouring provinces. There are several species today which are popular among consumers. Amphoe Pa Sang 09 - Pa Sang It is a handicraft centre and famous for its handmade cotton materials which are produced mainly in Ban Nong Nguak. Also at this village is an ancient temple noted for its beautiful arches in indigenous Burmese-influenced style. 10 - Wat Phra Phutthabat Tak Pha ( ) About 7 kilometres away on the route to Li district. Legend says that the Lord Buddha once stayed here, leaving a trace of likeness of monk's saffron robe and his footprint on stone ground. Amphoe Ban Hong 11 - Ban Hong ( ) It is the site of a 1,400-years-old community dating back to the Hariphunchai Kingdom. Located some 40 kilometres to the south of Lamphun, it offers a scenic and delightful vista of green fields and mountains. It also has several old temples built in admirable indigenous style, e.g., 12 - Wat Phra Chao Ton Luang ( ) with its 600-years-old Buddha statue, 13 - Wat Pa Puai ( ) 14 - Wat Dong Rusi ( ) . The later two temples both maintain 100-years-old Ho Trai (scripture halls) built with wood in delicate patterns. 15 - a cave some 15 kilometres south of the district town. Inside the cavern are oddly-shaped stalactites. There are accommodation facilities for tourists in the district town. Amphoe Li 16 - Wat Phra Bat Huai Tom ( ) It is the largest temple in the district, boasting a large Lanna-style Chedi and an extensive place of worship built in laterite by Karens living in the vicinity who were admirers of the highly revered Phra Kru Ba Chaiwongsa. The temple is about 5 kilometres off Highway No. 106 at Km. 47. 17 - Chedi Ha Duang ( ) About 2 kilometres from Li is a group of five old pagoda. The site is believed to have been an ancient town. 18 - Mae Ping National Park ( ) Covering an area of over 1,000 square kilometres, its main feature is the Ping River, which flows through the forests in the park. On both sides are fertile forest-lands with sheer cliffs providing beautiful natural scenery. Certain parts of the waterway spread out to form reservoir-like bodies of water with numerous small islands and rapids. 19 - The 7-level Namtok Ko Luang ( ) Fed from lime streams. It is just 20 kilometres from the park headquarters and accessible by road. Fascinating stalactites and stalagmites are to be found inside nearby lime caves. Tourists wishing to stay overnight are recommended to contact park headquarters, which are located some 20 kilometres off Highway No.106 at Km.47. 20 - Doi Khun Tan National Park The Khun Than mountain range of the Doi Khun Than National Park forms a natural boundary between Lamphun and Lampang provinces. The northern rail line to Chiang Mai runs through the longest rail tunnel in the country, which is 1,352 metres long and takes five minutes to traverse. The moutain has both virgin jungle and pinery. The admission is 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for children. .
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