Lampang is located on the right bank of the Mae Nam Wang River is about 600 kilometers north of Bangkok at the junctions of the highways to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. The province surrounded by mountains covers an area of 12,534 square kilometers.

It is administratively divided into 13 Amphoes (districts). Muang Lampang, Chae Hom, Hang Chat, Ko Kha, Mae Mo, Mae Phrik, Mae Tha, Kgao, Soem Ngam, Sop Prap, Thoen, Wang Nua, and Muang Pan.

Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Sukhothai, Tak, Lamphun and Chiang Mai. The old name of Lampang is Khelang Nakhon.

Lampang lays claim to two unique features. It is the sole Thai town still using colorful horse drawn carriages as a means of everyday urban transport and it claims to have the world’s only training school for baby elephants.

The Thai Elephants Conservation Centre 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.

Lampang is famous for the production of ceramic products and mining operations. Large amounts of ball clay, china stone, and lignite are extracted from the surrounding mountains.

There are more than 200 ceramic factories in and around Muang Lampang. Most of ceramic factories are small to medium size operations mainly producing novelties, tableware’s, and building materials.

The Terra Cotta and 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.

Thanon Talat Kao or Thanon Khon Doen (Kat Kongta) is a market next to the pier. The buildings on both sides of the river bank have a combination of European, Chinese and Burmese architectural styles. Thanon Khon Doen represents the local lifestyle of the Kat Kongta community.

Chao Pho Pratu Pha Shrine. Legend has it that Chao Pho Pratu Pha was a great warrior of Lampang. 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. To honor the brave warrior, the people of Lampang built a shrine which has since become a sacred and revered place of worship.

The Mae Mo district is where lignite is mined in open pits. To the north of the province is Doi Luang standing at 1697 meters above sea level. The Kiu Lom Dam is about 38 kilometers from town.

Mae Mo district near the lignite mining area is home to the largest power plant in Thailand the plant uses the abundant lignite as fuel. The largest concrete plant is also situated north of Muang Lampang and is also powered by the lignite. Limestone is another abundant mineral mined in Lampang.

Ban Chang Luang is a facility established by Khru Kam aye Dejduangta. 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.

Na Khrua in the Mae Tha district is about 25 kilometers 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.

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.

Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is a paradigm of temple building in the style 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 colored 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, during the day and at night.

Wat Kaeo Don Tao used to be where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined (the same statue is 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.

Wat Si Rong Muang is to the west of the 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.

Wat Pa Fang was built during the reign of King Rama 1V by the Burmese. 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.

Wat Chai Mongkhon is almost opposite Wat Pa Fang. The outstanding structure is the Kuti, (monk's living quarters) which is a white cement building with Burmese style wooden roof. Inside is housed a bronze Buddha statue of fine workmanship cast in Mandalay, Myanmar.

Wat Chedi Sao Lang is 5 kilometers on the Lampang Chae Hom road, shaded by large trees. The temple has twenty Chedis is its compound, each built in the combined Lanna Burmese style. A Chiang Saen style bronze Buddha statue is also enshrined there.

Wat Phra That Mon Phaya Chae is situated on a hillside and provides clear view of Lampang. Its most outstanding feature is the long stairs leading to the Chedi enshrining a Holy Relic.

Wat Phra That Sadet is one of Lampang's major sites, it is believed to have been built by Queen Chamthevi some 500 years ago.

The Khun Than mountain range of Doi Khun Than National Park forms a natural boundary between Lamphun and Lampang provinces. The mountain has both virgin jungle and pine forests.

Tham Pha Thai National Park is located between Mueang Lampang and Ngao districts just off the main highway some 60 kilometers from the provincial town.

Chae Son National Park is a major destination for leisure and relaxation in Lampang. Located in Muang Pan District area is a lush forested and mountainous region with a 70 plus Celsius hot spring over the rocky terrain. The area provides a misty and picturesque scene, particularly in the morning.

National Parks Thailand

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. It features 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 on the first Friday-Saturday 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 held at the Nakhon Lampang Railway Station in the beginning of April to commemorate the first royal train that arrived to the station 1 April 1916.

The event hosts an exhibition at Kat Mua market. The participants dress up in the traditional style of costume of some 80 years ago, when the horse carriage was first used in Lampang.

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The journey from Bangkok by car, taxi or minibus is a distance of about 600 kilometers. Depending on how many stops, the journey takes between 7-8 hours. Minibus tours are an idea way to tour Thailand.

By Bus air conditioned and non air conditioned buses to Lampang. Depart from Mochit Bus Terminal Bangkok daily. For more information. Tel: +66 (0) 2 223 7010-20 or visit Transport Services.

Regular trains depart from Hua Lamphong Railway Station Bangkok to Lampang daily. For more information. Tel: +66 (0) 2 936 2852-66 or visit website.

Air Rail and Bus Time Tables

Lampang has many hotels and guesthouses on the banks of the Wang River, set in beautiful natural surroundings. In and around the city the larger hotels have many facilities, coffee shops, music rooms, snooker, pubs and restaurants serving western food.