Wat in LAMPHUN Province
Posted On Wednesday, December 26, 2007 at at 12:16 AM by Wintertime Wat in LAMPHUN Province
Today, Lamphun still retain its enchanting ambience of a small but old community. It is some 670 kilometres from Bangkok and only 26 kilometres from Chiang Mai. Located on the bank of the Kuang River, its attractions include ancient sites and relics as well as forests and mountains and delightful lakes. Lamphun is the most famous producer of longans.
Wat Phra Phutthabat Tak Pha
About 7 kilometres away on the route to Li district is Wat Phra Phutthabat Tak Pha. Legend has it that the Lord Buddha once stayed here, leaving a trace of likeness of monk's saffron robe and his footprint of stone ground.
Wat Phra Yuen
Another ancient site related to the old history of the town is Wat Phra Yuen. The Ku Chang-Ku Ma Chedi 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.
Wat Chamthewi
Wat Chamthewi, commonly referred to a “Ku Kut”, 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.
On the road parallel to the old city wall to the west of town is Wat Mahawan, 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.
Lamphun Travels
Posted On at at 12:13 AM by Wintertime
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| LAMPHUN's ATTRACTIONS : In The City, Along The Route to Pa Sang(Road No.106) , Amphoe Mae Tha , Amphoe Li |
| Lamphun, formerly Hariphunchai, is another historical sites. The town was founded in the year 1663 and the first ruler was a Queen called Chammathewi. This charming province is also noted for its beautiful women and tasty longans. With an area of 4,506 sq. kms., the province has 7 Amphoes namely: Muang, Pa Sang, Ban Hong, Mae Tha, Li, Thung Hua Chang, and Ban Thi. The town is about 670 kilometers from Bangkok by car. |
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| LAMPHUN's ATTRACTIONS |
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 In The City : |
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Hariphunchai National Museum which houses numerous Lanna antiques found in the region. The museum is open to public everyday except Monday, Tuesday and official holidays from 09.00 -16.00. Admission fee is 10 baht. Ku Kut Pagoda or Wat Chamma Thewi (Swan Changkot Chedi) This monastery was built around A.D. 755 by Khmer artisans. The pagoda structure is of the square Buddha Gaya Characteristics as seen in India. Three standing Buddha images, in the attitude of blessing are enshrined on each level of the pagoda base of each side totaling 15 images for one side of five levels, grand totaling 60 Buddha image d the pagoda. Relics of Queen Chammathewi, the first ruler of Hariphunchai housed inside the pagoda. The pagoda top was originally covered with gold but later, was broken and disappeared thus giving to the name "Ku Kut" or Pagoda without top. Other temples in the vicinity include Wat Mahawan , noted for sacred amulets, Wat Phra Yun or Wat Buddha Maha Sathan built by King Thammikarat about one thousand years ago. Along Highway to Chiang Mai is located the village of Nong Chang Khun which is noted for the biggest plantations of longans in the country. |
| Along The Route to Pa Sang(Road No.106) : |
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Tak Pha Buddha Footprints The footprints are located on the top of a small hill in the area of Tambon Makok, Amphoe Pa Sang, 16 kms. from the township area. The legend says that Lord Buddha left his footprints during his visit to that locality for Lawa tribal people to pay their homages to in lieu of he himself. He also dried his suffron robe on the cliff where one, at present, can see a mark like a piece of suffron robe being dried there thus originating the name of Tak Pha Buddha Footprints or Drying Suffron Robe Buddha Footprints. Annual celebration takes place on the eight day of warming moon of the sixth lunar month of every year when inhabitants of Lamphun and neighbouring provinces flock to the annual fair. |
| Amphoe Mae Tha : |
Doi Khun Tan National Park Doi Khun Tan is located on a mountain range bordering on both Lampang and Lamphun Provinces. There is a 1,362 meter long tunnel, regarded the longest in Thailand, for railroad underneath the mountain. There are accommodations, which belong to the Royal State Railway of Thailand, a missionary party, and the Royal Forestry Department, on top of Doi Khun Tan. |
| Amphoe Li : |
Mae Ping National Park situated at km. 47 on Lamphun - Li - Thoen route, (Highway 106) the park covers a lake and a forest above Phumiphol Dam. Attractions in the area of the park are : Namtok Ko Luang , Tham Yang Wi , and Kaeng Ko, etc. Langan Fair.
Langan Fair This fair, held in August every year, features a contest to judge the best fruit and select Miss Lamyai (Langan) for each year.
