The charming city of horse drawn carriages and province
with the king’s stable of white elephants at the Thailand Elephant
Conservation Center.
Most visitors simply visit Lampang to see the Thailand
Elephant Conservation Center, bypassing Lampang town on
their way to Chiang Mai and provinces farther north. However,
while the elephant center is certainly a must-see attraction,
those willing to spend some time in the provincial capital are
generally surprised by the charming and somewhat unusual
town and province of Lampang.
Famous for its horse-drawn carriages and sporting a
rooster on its provincial emblem (the bird also honored with
a large statue in the center of town), Lampang boasts a long
history of human settlements within the Wang River basin,
some of which date back more than 1,000 years. Lampang
is rich in archaeological evidence from the kingdoms of
Hariphunchai, Lanna, and Burma.
The horse and carriage, a mode of local transportation
that has survived the introduction of automobiles to Lampang,
is a fun way to explore the surprisingly large town, which features
a number of beautiful old temples. The rooster statue, which you
are likely to pass along the way, is a much older symbol of Lampang,
dating back to the city’s former name, Kukutthanakorn, or City of
Roosters, a name that was derived from a local legend about a white
rooster that was sent by the Brahmin God Indra to wake the local
inhabitants so they could give alms to the Lord Buddha, who was
purportedly visiting the town.
On the road from Lampang to Chiang Mai is the Thailand
Elephant Conservation Center, the oldest and only government
sponsored elephant center in Thailand, where the King’s white
elephants are housed, visitors can learn about elephants, and
elephant demonstrations are regularly performed.
Lampang city is the capital of the province of the same name,
a city that features horse drawn carriages, relaxing riverside bars
and restaurants, a number of spectacular Buddhist temples, and
a friendly, laid-back local population. Just outside of the city,
on the road to Chiang Mai, the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center
is one of the premier venues for visitors to learn about elephants
and watch elephant demonstrations.
☺ Tip ☺
If you wish to participate in the mahout training course at the
Thai Elephant Conservation Center (typically only run during the high season)
you must book well in advance.
Credit:: Amazing Thailand Picture:: by Independen man Thank !!
