All About Lampang

Overview

Lampang is a city of about 800,000 people, some 600 km from Bangkok and 100 km from Chiang Mai. It is situated in the Wang River valley, bordered by the Khuntan Mountains on the west and Pi-Pan-Num Mountain range on the east.

Lampang has a relatively dry climate compared to nearby provinces. "Winter" starts from the last rains, typically November, and lasts until March. It is usually dry with pleasant sunny days and cool nights.

Summer typically starts March until June. The temperature can be as high as 40 degrees C in April. Late afternoon rains are common.

Rainy season runs from June until November. Being in a relative rain shadow, Lampang receives less precipitation than neighboring provinces and rarely suffers from extensive flooding which has plagued Chiang Mai in recent years.

Outer Staircase of Wat Phra That Lampang Luang.

Economy

Besides the traditional rice paddy farming, pineapple and sugarcane constitute the major food crops.

Lampang has a large deposit of lignite coal in Mae Moh district, and has several coal-fired electricity generating plants.

There is a large deposit of kaolin in the area, which is utilized in the ceramics industry.

Logging has traditionally been an important industry, and there is a large stand of teak in the region. Wood carving is a craft commonly practiced. Many elephants have been employed to transport logs to the river for transport to Bangkok, hence a founding of the "Elephant School", the predecessor to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center.

Culture

Lampang, also called "meuang rot ma" in Thai, meaning "Horse Carriage City", is considered by some Thais as the last paradise in Thailand. The city is well-connected by rail, 4-lane highways to both Bangkok and Chiang Mai, it is here that tourists can still find horse-drawn carriages in regular use for transportation. This, together with the relative lack of skyscrapers that have contaminated Chiang Mai's skyline of late, make Lampang an increasingly favored setting for period drama. One account attributes the horse-drawn carriage to the Portuguese, via Macau, although a more likely origin is colonial Burma -- Lampang was an important center of timber industry in the early 20th century and saw an influs of migrants from British-controlled Burma. The horse-drawn carriage is one of the most memorable symbols of Lampang, as reflected in many traditional products.

Lampang has a few institutions of higher learning, such as Yonok College, and a branch of Thammasat University.

Landmarks and Tourist Attractions

While Lampang is a major northern city well served by road, rail and air transportation, it is spared from mass tourism, which has altered the character of nearby cities such as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Tourists typically stop by for lunch and visit the more famous attractions such as Wat Phra That Lampang Luang and the Elephant Conservation Center and then proceed to points further north. Less well-known tourist attractions in Lampang are thus visited by locals. Among these are the Wang Kaeo waterfall and the Chae Son National Park, a compact yet charming park which combine a natural hot springs with large waterfalls.Many temples in downtown Lampang were built in the Burmese style, originally endowed by the logging tycoons of the late 19th century. Wat Sri Bunrueang and Wat Pa Fang are among the extant examples. Traditional Lanna architecture can be found at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, which is situated at the site of the ancient Lampang City. It is famous for its murals from the 19th century. The city seal features a white rooster in the temple's gate. Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao, on the West Bank of the Wang River, is said to have housed the Emerald Buddha between 1436 and 1468. Wat Phra That Chedi Sao (The Temple of Twenty Chedis) is famous for its array of twenty pagodas. Other temples of some renown include Wat Phrathat Jom Ping and Wat Lai Hin both in the Koh Ka district.

Source: Wikipedia