Visiting Lampang
Horse drawn carriages are touristy, but fun
Situated in the hilly northwest between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Lampang is the capital of the province of the same name and boasts around 1,000 years of history and numerous temples. It retains interesting facets of yesteryear, such as traditional horse-drawn carriages for getting about, a baby elephant training school and Lanna/Burma archaeological sites.
Key Lampang attractions
Most people stopping off in Lampang have an interest in culture and history and there is much to see for the discerning visitor. The main attractions include Wat Phra Kaew Tao in town and the National Elephant Institute farther afield. In addition, you can’t but help notice the stunning Lampang countryside when out and about and there are loads of national parks worth checking out, where great walking, camping, and waterfalls and hot springs are in evidence.
Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao: this multi-tiered temple on the right bank of the Mae Nam Wang River is ancient and one of the best examples of Burmese style architecture in the country. It boasts an impressive chedi and the Burmese-style chapel features fine decorations with fantastic colouring.
Wat Chedi Sao (20 Chedi Temple): is in the same vicinity as Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao on the river in the north of town. The temple has a delectable setting and features Burmese forms in its bell and spires.
Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang: lies to the south of Lampang city and is a stunning temple with an amazing wood carved façade and double roof. The decorations are on par with that of Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao. It’s one of the most notable and important in the country, dating back 500 years. It is said to contain a relic of the Buddha, making a popular tourist attraction for Thais.
National Elephant Institute: formerly the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre and one of the main draws to Lampang Province, this unique elephant centre is touted as the only one of its type in the world. Most elephants are trained for work in forestry while activities at the centre include log pushing, bathing, and elephant riding. The National Elephant Institute can be found in the Thung Kwian forest park on the way to Chiang Mai.
Chao Pho Pratu Pha Shrine: if you are heading along the main Lampang-Ngao highway, then this shrine is well worth a look. It is a monumental spirit shrine that contains a statue of Chao Pho Pratu Pha and has plenty of history.
Wat Prathat Lampang is a striking temple
Doi Khuntan National Park: is one of the main national parks in the province. It mostly lies at altitude and thus gets pretty chilly in the cool, dry high season (December to February). Most people come here for the excellent walking and you can also camp here if you have your own gear. You can get here by taking the Lampang-Lamphun highway or by rail to Khuntan Station.
Chae Son National Park: one of Thailand’s most underrated national parks, Chae Son, or Jae Sawn, is well known for its hot springs. You can bathe in the hot springs water in a communal covered pool, with associated cold pool, or make use of the private dips. There are several markets and small restaurants set up within the park and you can also stay in bungalow-type accommodation. Namtok Mae Mon waterfall is also well worth a look. The park is well marked off the Lampang-Wag Nua Road.
Doi Luang National Park: extends into Chiang Rai and Phayao provinces as well as Lampang and features the massive Namtok Wang Kaeo waterfall. Water plunges down scores of tiers and you can see the falls from miles away. There are also hill tribe villages worth walking to within the park.
Lampang shopping, entertainment and hotels
Shopping wise, Lampang has a history of ceramics production. Top-end white clay was sourced at Jae Hom district by Chinese tradesmen in the 1940s and production has gone from strength to strength, with at least 200 ceramics factories spread throughout the province. Consequently there are good deals to be had in Lampang, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
With Lampang being well into elephants, there are also many shops where you can buy elephant artwork and handmade elephant dung paper along with other big beast souvenirs.
Don’t be surprised to learn that the eating and drinking scene is a bit on the slow side in Lampang city. Two of the best-known eateries are Chom Wang Restaurant and Pa Pong, while Relax Pub and Restaurant on Tipchang Road is the main place to hang out and has excellent traditional Thai food as well as live music.
On the hotel front, most places are aimed at backpackers and mid-range tourists although there is one smarter place for those with deeper pockets, the Lampang River Lodge.
Getting to Lampang and around
Trains, planes and buses all hit Lampang. Not many people fly in, however, with PB Air being the only main operator running from Bangkok to Lampang Airport. Prices are fairly steep. Lampang is en-route to Chiang Mai and thus buses and trains both make a stop here in either direction.
First and second class trains come in throughout the day and night from Bangkok, and there are also additional third class services from Chiang Mai. Journey time from Bangkok is usually around 12 hours or more, depending on the service (rapid, express, special express), and two hours from Chiang Mai.
Buses are faster than trains and take about seven or eight hours from Bangkok’s northern Mochit station. Second class buses (with air conditioning), first class and VIP buses all run from Bangkok, with the VIP buses being the best owing to the extra space. From Chiang Mai, buses depart from the main Chiang Mai Arcade bus terminal every 30 minutes and take about two hours. The bus terminal in Lampang is a fair way out of town.
Getting about Lampang is chiefly by songthaew (shared taxi) and motorbike taxis. Horse-drawn carriages are, of course, also available and are the best way to take in the old houses along the river and the temples.
Note! To secure a guaranteed room and find the best rates, we suggest you look online at Agoda.com. They seem to be the most competitively priced of the hotels sites.
