An ancient city with a hospitable population famed for
its beautiful women, Lamphun retains its old-world charm
and draws visitors to its natural beauty.
Lamphun, a small northern province sandwiched between
Chiang Mai and Lampang has a long and storied history.
Lamphun was founded as the city of Haripunjaya, a Mon kingdom-city,
arguably part of the Dvaravati civilization, established in the ninth
(perhaps seventh) century by former Buddhist monks from Lopburi.
Haripunjaya was first ruled by Queen Camadevi, daughter of the king
of Lopburi, who established a legacy for the province’s reputation for
beautiful women. The kingdom she ruled over thrived for several centuries,
exerting wide influence across the region, before King Meng Rai used
subterfuge to conquer the town in late 12th century and integrate it into
the Lan Na Kingdom based in nearby Chiang Mai.
Today, Lamphun still retains the enchanting ambience of a small
but old community, where life moves at a leisurely pace and remnants
of the city’s fortifications remind visitors of the city’s proud history.
Lamphun is some 670 kilometers from Bangkok and only 26 kilometers
from Chiang Mai. Located on the banks of the Kuang River, Lamphun
features a skyline made of temple spires and attractions across the
province include ancient sites as well as forests, mountains, and lakes.
Nearly a thousand years after subjugation by the Lanna Kingdom
from Chiang Rai, Lamphun remains a fairly sleepy province, particularly
in contrast to its more popular and populous neighbor, Chiang Mai.
This is in fact Lamphun’s allure. The charming provincial capital retains
its fortified, moat-enclosed old city where the local population lives
a relatively slow-paced lifestyle. Visitors will enjoy visiting exquisite
temples via bicycle or samlor, bicycle powered cabs, and exploring
a lush countryside where various hill tribe communities live and a number
of natural attractions, including as Doi Khun Than National Park, feature
many exotic plants and wildlife.
☺ Tips ☺
The admission for Mae Ping National Park is 100 baht for adults
and 50 baht for children. Tourists wishing to stay overnight are
recommended to contact park headquarters at
Tel. 0 2562 0760
www.dnp.go.th
Credit :: Amazing Thailand
