Amphoe Mueang Lampang 01 - Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao ( ) On Phra Kaeo Road 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 housing a reclining Buddha and a museum exhibiting ancient relics of the Lanna era. 02 - Wat Si Rong Mueang ( ) West of town, 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. It is a temple with elaborate carving decorations and plaster designs adorned with colored glass fashioned with delicate craftsmanship. 03 - Wat Pa Fang ( ) Built during the reign of King Rama IV by Burmese, it is located on Sanam Bin Road. It 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. A small Ubosot has Burmese-style woodwork over its roof with beautiful plaster designs over its doors. Usually there are a considerable number of Burmese monks in residence. 04 - Wat Chai Mongkhon ( ). Almost across Wat Pa Fang, The outstanding structure is the Kuti, monk's living quarters, which is a white cement building with Burmese-style wooden roof. Its columns are adorned with coils of golden wires in elaborate designs and colored glasses. The blinds and corridors are made of elaborately-fashioned perforated wooden sheet. Inside is housed a bronze Buddha statue of fine workmanship cast in Mandalay, Myanmar. 05 - Wat Chedi Sao Lang ( ) About 5 kilometres from town on the Lampang-Chae Hom road. Cooled and shaded by large trees, the temple has twenty Chedis is 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. The door panels of the Ubosot are of ancient vintage with elaborate design. 06 - Wat Phra That Mon Phaya Chae ( ) It is located on the Lampang-Ngao Road about five kilometres from town with a right turn at Km. 605 marker. As it is situated on a hillside, it affords a clear view of Lampang. Its most outstanding feature is the long stair leading to the Chedi enshrining a Holy Relic. 07 - Wat Phra That Sadet ( ) can be reached by taking the Lampang-Ngao Road. After 17 kilometres, take a left turn and continue on for another 2 kilometres. One of Lampang's major sites, it is believed to have been built by Queen Chamthevi some 500 years ago. 08 - Kiu Lom Dam ( ), To reach the Kiu Lom Dam ( ), take the Lampang-Ngao road and turn left at km. 623-624 marker, which is about 38 kilometres from town. Then continue for a further 14 kilometres. Constructed for irrigation purpose, it has a scenic reservoir suitable for boating or rafting. At least a half-day tour is suggested. Visitors may opt for overnighting on raft. Places to see include cliffs, isles and fishing village. For more information, call 0 5433 4393, 0 5422 3772. 09 - Thanon Talat Kao or Thanon Talat Chin or Thanon Khon Doen “Kat Kongta” ( “ ”) It is a market next to the pier. In the past, it was a prosperous market. Since the reign of King Rama V, there were various communities arriving for business purposes such as the British, Burmese and Chinese. The latter has become the largest in number coming for trading purpose and establishing a gigantic community. Therefore, the locals called Kat Kongta as the “Talat Chin”- Chinese Market. The buildings on both sides of the river bank have a combination of European, Chinese and Burmese architectural styles. There are various styles of beautiful houses. Thanon Khon Doen - the Walking Street - starts from the foot of the Ratsadaphisek Bridge to the Fong Li building. From the evening of Saturday and Sunday until approximately 10.00 p.m., Thanon Khon Doen, “Kat Kongta” presents a local lifestyle of the Kat Kongta community. It is a cultural trace to the past. The locals will set up stalls offering articles, clothes, arts and various kinds of local food to be tasted such as Nam Ngiao, Namphrik Ong, Naem, as well as, local and contemporary musical concerts. Amphoe Ko Kha 10 - Wat Phra That Lampang Luang ( ) Some 20 kilometres to the southwest of town in Ko Kha district, it is a paradigm of temple building of Lanna. The temple itself is prominently sited on a hillock surrounded by wall. 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 ( ). To the back is a golden Chedi in Lanna architectural style containing a Holy Relic. Also in the back is another Viharn with beautiful murals on wooden walls, said to be the oldest in the North. The temple also has a large collection of ancient wooden utensils 11 - Wat Phra That Chom Ping ( ) Using the same route as Wat Phra That Lampang Luang but taking a left turn at the district office and continue on for 17 kilometres Mu 5, Ban Chom Ping, Tambon Na Kaeo. According to legend, it was constructed in the reign of King Tilokkarat of the Lanna Thai Kingdom. 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. Artefacts discovered in this area are also displayed at the temple. Amphoe Hang Chat 12 - Thai Elephants Conservation Centre ( ) It is located in the Thung Kwian forest park in Hang Chat district, about 32 kilometres from town on the route to Chiang Mai. It is the only facility in the world devoted to the raining of elephants for timber work using these pachyderms as labor. There are performances and training demonstrations. The art of making wooden elephants is also demonstrated. There are 2-3 shows daily. Visitors can enjoy feeding these intelligent giants or ride them to see the natural surroundings. The centre provides health care for the elephants. For more information, call 0 5422 8034, 0 5422 9042. 13 - The Khun Than mountain range of the Doi Khun Than National Park ( ) It 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 mountain has both virgin jungle and pinery. Many tourists choose to walk from the Khun Than Station up the mountain, a distance of about 7 kilometres. There are four rest areas on the way. Visitors may also camp overnight but must provide for their own food. The best time to take the trip is between November-February when the weather is fine and cool. For more information, call 0 5351 9216 or visit www.dnp.go.th Amphoe Ngao 14 - Chao Pho Pratu Pha Shrine ( ) It is about 50 kilometres from town on the Lampang-Ngao road near Km. 650 marker. Stacks of offering can be seen around the site and the shrine is considered sacred. Road-users passing by usually honk their car horns or set off firecrackers as a sign of respect. 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. The attackers were so frightened that they withdrew. To honour the brave warrior, the people build the shrine which has since become a sacred and revered place of worship. 15 - Tham Pha Thai National Park ( ) It is located between Mueang Lampang and Ngao districts just off the main highway at Km.665-666, some 60 kilometres from the provincial town. Cars can access right to the mouth of a cave within which are picturesque stalactite and stalagmites. There are also several smaller caverns, each with their own attractions. For more information, call 0 5422 0364 or visit www.dnp.go.th 16 - Ban Chang Luang ( ), At 33 Mu 9, Ban Khoi in Tambon Ban Rong near the Phao Yao-Lampang road, is a facility established by Khru Kam-aye Dejduangta ( ดชดว ). 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. For more information, call 0 5422 0380 and 0 5436 5229. Amphoe Mueang Pan 17 - Chae Son National Park ( ) It is located in Mueang Pan district area. It can be reached by taking Highway No.1035 taking a left turn at Km. 59. A further 17 kilometre is 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. There are bathing facilities for health purpose. One kilometre away is a clear, cool brook where tourists can take a dip in water fed by the 6-level Chae Son waterfall originating from winding brooks and streams flowing through high mountains. There are accommodations and camping areas for visitors. For more information, call 0 5422 9000 or visit www.dnp.go.th Amphoe Wang Nuea 18 - Namtok Wang Kaeo ( ) It is Lampang's the largest.