Treasures of Old Lampang

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Picture by marhas

The most amazing experience in Lampang you get by walking along Talad Kao Road ถนนตลาดเก่า, also called Kad Kong Ta กาดกองต้า ("the market on the road by the port") or Talad Chin (Chinese market). It leads along Wang River between Ratchadapisek Bridge and the Riverside Guest House. In the 19th century this area with its historic buildings was formed by Thai, Chinese, Burmese and British merchants. It was the centre of the northern teak trade. Large trading companies, like the Bombay Burmah, British Borneo, and East Asiatic, placed employees in Lampang to operate teak concessions. Burmese merchants built large, ornate teak shophouses. Chinese merchants constructed double-storied brick and concrete shophouses, with plaster walls, wooden shutters and stucco ornamentation. Their old houses are filled with new life today: gift shops, cafes and guest houses. Every Saturday from 6.30 it turns to a Walking Street with local and handmade products, antique objects as well as souvenirs, local food and clothes. Musicians are playing traditional Thai music.


Maung Ngae Zin House: Maung Ngae Zin was the son of Suay At, the first Burmese headman of a logging company in Lampang, an ancestor of the Suwanna-at family who made their fortunes from trading wood. The house was first turned into a grocery shop, then a bar and guesthouse for tourists, and finally into a coffee house, writes Bangkok Post.

Moung Ngwe Zin Building Picture by marhas


Picture by marhas


Walking street Picture by fredalix - อาลิกส์'s


Picture by marhas


Baan Janviroj, built in 1918 decorated with Western style stucco, Western style stained glass over jalousie windows:





OYO 554 Old Town Boutique Hostel Picture by marhas


OYO 554 Old Town Boutique Hostel Picture by marhas


Lampang Arts Center:

Picture by marhas


Yai Dang's shophouse: Yai Dang was a Chinese merchant. Read about her adventorous life and the trade in Lampang on sanuksanuk.wordpress.com.

Picture by marhas


Herbal pharmacy: A shophouse row with a herbal pharmacy at its end:

Kanchawong building: This house belonged to Bua Phad Kanchanawong, a merchant from Burma. The gingerbread carved building was first built by workers from Mandalay to be a tailor shop on the ground floor with a living space on the upper floor. See Bangkok Post.


Ban Sao Nak: The name means "the house with many stilts". Built in 1895 by Maung Chan Ong, the Burmese ancestor of the Chandraviroj family, the teak house has 116 stilts and consists of a mix of Lanna and Myanmar styles. It has been turned into a museum.


Let you introduce to Lampang by Living Spree's chapter "Laid back in Lampang".

Have a look at Mars-Moon Art Shop on Talad Kao Road.






Read more:
The Teak Business in Siam 1880s–1932
Burmese Influenced Architecture in Lampang Municipal District Area
Lampang's historic wealth can be seen in its wonderful architecture

Mouthwatering Food in Lampang

See the locations on Treasures of Lampang Google Map

Ban Fai บ้านฝ้าย: 206/2 Moo 2 Paholyothin Road.

Ban Rim Nam: 328 Thipchang Road

Ban Sao Nak บ้านเสานัก

Heuan Chom Wang เฮือนชมวัง: 276 Taladkao Road. Lanna style restaurant by the Wang River. Thai food and traditional northern food. Read review on travelfish.org

Jariya Restaurant 190/6 Robwieng Road Soun Dok

Kaeng Ron Pracha Otanjai Rd., Bor Heaw

Ban Kamwan บ้านคำหวาน

Kawsoi Super ข้าวซอยซูเปอร์

Kelang Nakorn 719-720 Kelang Nakorn Hotel Soundok Road

Kongkin Banhao ของกินบ้านเฮา

Kum Laung ห้องอาหารคุ้มหลวง. 229 Boonwath Road

Maehae อาหารพื้นเมืองแม่แห 1017 Uparach Road

Min Krating ม่อนกระทิงปลาเผา

Ochawattana 136/34-35 Paholyothin Road

Pao Yong ก๋วยเตี๋ยวปู่โย่ง

Rod Nung รสหนึ่ง

Ruan Pae ภัตตาคารเรือนแพ 270 Paholyothin Road

Sabiang ร้านเสบียง

Sriwang 368/8 Chatchai Road

Sukica 54/7-8 Thakrawnoi Road

The Riverside Restaurant ริเวอร์ไซด์: 328 Tipchang Road. Terraces overlook the Wang river. Thai and Western Food. Live music every night.

Wanachai วนชัยสปอร์ตคลับ

Wienglakorn ภัตตาคารเวียงลคอร: 138/38 Paholyothin Road

Wiengphana: 138/109 Lampang Wiengthong Hotel Paholyothin Road

Herbal Sauna

Northern Herbal Medicine Society (Samakorn Samunphrai Phaak Neua): 149 Pratooma Road: Breathe the steam of more than hundred herbs rising up from the ground to a room, where you sit. This is the herbal steam bath. Then get a traditional Thai massage.
Signs in English explain the prices. The institute is managed by a 62-year old lady, Mrs. Lamduan Kurpunngern, and she is assisted by a number of part-time employees. Read a description by piatom.com. Daily 8 am to 8 pm.

Lampang Herb Conservation: This is the place for people who are interested in taking care of their health. The Medicinal Plant's Conservation Center has a spa service with an herbal soak and Thai massage, as well as skin treatment with herbs. There are displays of more than 150 types of herbs to study. This is a popular place for tourists. Located in Khan Mueang Road, Tambon Bo Haeo, Mueang District, Lampang. Tel: 0-5431-3128. Open daily from 8am to 7pm. Read an article by Bangkok Post

Market

Aswin Night Market: Located near Lampang City Municipality: Fashionable clothes and shoes, cosmetics, ornaments, local food, seasonal fruits and vegetables and a lot of food and desserts. See pictures on photoontour.com

J-Street: In front of the Seri Supermarket on Jaroenmueang Road (also Charoen Muang) you find the local cuisine market: Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and festival days you get a lot of food and drinks in the fresh air.

Kad Thung Kwia or Kad Thung Kwien: Market on the road to Lampang with craftworks. See some pictures by thaismile.jp

Ko Kha: Near Wat Prathat Lampang Luang

Ride elephants and listen to elephant music

Elephant, playing a drum, picture of Thai Elephant Orchestra by Reno Taini



"As responsible travelers, especially in developing countries like Thailand, we often find ourselves caught between our consciences and our curiosity. Fortunately, I discovered one place in Thailand that satisfied both my elephant curiosity and my desire to protect this endangered species." Michelle McCue writes it on Transitions abroad.com. She writes about The National Elephant Institute in Lampang (Kilometer 28-29 on Lampang - Chiang Mai Highway, Hang Chat Lampang), also known as Thai Elephant Conservation Centre ศูนย์อนุรักษ์ช้างไทย. It takes care of the animals and, with its eco-tourism, gives jobs to mahouts, the professional elephant handlers. There are two elephant hospitals, one run by the institute, one by a private person. For elephants, who have been injured by land mines along the Thai/Burmese boarder or others who have been nearly worked to dead. Read also this background on travbuddy.com

Two daily shows (10 and 11 am) present the work in the logging of teak wood and the elephants ability to paint pictures with water colors.

But the institute offers also a homestay program. You will stay at the same house as the mahout. You can learn to mount and ride an elephant - with no saddle, nothing to climb, just the elephant helping you up with his leg, ears and patience. In the morning and evening you will accompany the mahout to the forest, to take and bring the elephants. Then you help cooking Thai food, dine in Kantoke style and listen to music played by the mahouts. It's also possible to just stay in the mahouts home and not take part in the elephant training. Read more on thailandelephant.org.

Of course you can also go elephant riding on a comfortable saddle. There are rides from 10 minutes to one hour, every day from 8 am to 3.30 am. Read details.

Elephants can even make music. This was demonstrated 2001 by Dave Soldier and Richard Lair in collaboration with the animals at Thai Elephant Conservation Center. Provided with oversized instruments - a large harmonica, gong, synthesizers, and numerous drums - six elephants between the ages of 6 and 17 were allowed to create whatever they wished. The result was Thai Elephant Orchestra - listen to it on amazon.com. And if you don't believe, look at this film. Read the blog of Dave Soldier.

And did you know, that elephant dung is used to produce paper? That an elephant produces 50 kilos of dung a day and that you get 115 sheets of paper from that? Read about it here.

How you get to the institute? Read here. And see videos and pictures.

See pictures of the institute by tomcockrem.com.


See the location of The National Elephant Institute on Google Map and Google Earth

Old houses, beautiful temples and a Walking Street

See the locations on Treasures of Lampang Google Map

Wiang Neua The oldest part of Lampang - called Wiang Neua - with the most historical monuments and teakwood houses lies north of the River Wang. It's also called TaMaO-Community. Here you find Baan Sao Nak: 6 Ratwattana Road. Built in 1895 by Mong Chan Ong Chandraviroj, a Mon from Burma. The house is a mix of Burmese and Thai architecture. 116 teak pillars are supporting the house. Kantoke dinners are held there. Open daily : 10.00 A.M – 5.00 P.M. See pictures by thaismile.jp.

Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao วัดพระแก้วดอนเต้า: The Burmese style temple was built around 680 during the reign of King Anantayot, the founder of Lampang, and was the home of The Emerald Buddha - now in Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok - from 1436 to 1467, when it was moved to Chiang Mai. There ist the 50 metre tall Chedi Phra Boromathat, northwest of it stands the Viharn Phra Non from 1926 with a reclining Buddha. In front of this is a sao hongse – a pillar bearing the Brahmanic sacred goose (a Mon legacy). On the north side of the enclosure is a life-size statue of the white elephant responsible for bringing the Emerald Buddha here. See pictures by thaismile.jp. Read Thailand for Visitors. A local legend says, that around the year 500, while the area suffered a famine, a monk descended from heaven and a pious woman, Mae (mother) Suchada, offered him a water-melon. Inside was a large green gem, which turned into a Buddha image with help from the god Indra. Thats how the temple got its name: ‘The Monastery of the Emerald Buddha on the Water Jar Knoll’. But the legend has no happyend: The then king let kill Mae Suchada, the monk escaped. Of course another famine struck the area as a result of this decision. The Buddha image is now at wat Phra that Lampang Luang. The complex houses also a Lanna Museum, founded 1968, showing a collection of Lanna art and antiques.

Wat Suchadaram: Behind Wat Prakaeo Don Tao it is Wat Suchadaram, constructed in 1804 and a mixture of Lao, Burmese and Lanna art and architecture. It's the style of Chiang Saen, whose residents were resettled here by King Kavila after Chiang Saen was demolished by the Burmese.

Wat Hua Kuang: "The Monastery north of the Plaza": The name refers to the old city centre. Also built by the pople from Chiang Saen.

Wat Saeng Muang Ma: The most important wat in Lampang for ritual practice, the legend says that Queen Chamathewi has founded it.

Wat Pong Sanuk Thai: "The Monatery of the Southern Fun Marsh". This wat from the 18th century combines Lanna and Burmese styles on a mount built up to represent Mount Meru, home of the gods. See pictures by chimburi.com

Picture by Unesco. Wat Pong Sanuk was winner of 2008 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award. The Unesco writes: "The restoration of Wat Pongsanuk provides an inspirational model of community-led conservation in saving a unique Lanna temple. The project showcases the collective achievements of the monks and the local residents working in close cooperation with traditional craftspersons, local authorities and academic advisors. The restoration works have been thoughtfully and sensitively carried out, with the revival of traditional building and decorative techniques. The project has also achieved educational aims in teaching local history, as seen in the thoughtful on-site exhibits and the subtle notations of the earlier building footprint." Wat TaMaO: Known for medication school. Read a background-article of Irrawaddy Magazine. Suan Dok Taladkao Road ถนนตลาดเก่า: By the Wang River, it is also called Kad Kong Ta กาดกองต้า or Thanon Khon Doen. In the 19th century the place of Thai, Chinese, Burmese and British merchants. Their houses remained. Every Saturday from 6.30 it turns to a Walking Street with local and handmade products, antique objects as well as souvenirs, local food and clothes. Musicians are playing traditional Thai music. Picture by on Lampang :เปิดโลกลำปาง. See more pictures. Wat Sri Chum วัดศรีชุม: Sri Chum Rd. Largest Burmese style wat in Thailand. See pictures by tomcockrem.com, by voyagevirtuel.com and on flickr.com Sop Tui


Wat Si Rong Muang วัดศรีรองเมือง: A Burmese temple built in 1905, the Viharn made of wood with several overlapping gables in the Burmese style.


Outside of town

Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang วัดพระธาตุลำปางหลวง: The largest wooden temple in Thailand. See pictures by thaismile.jp Read Thailand for Visitors. The viharn was constructed in the 13th century and rebuilt in 1802. The Chedi was enlarged in 1449 and 1496. It's famous for its murals from the 16th century, its architecture and its colourful interiors. Inside you find the Buddha Image Phra Kaew Don Tao, said to be carved from the same jade block as the Emerald Buddha. The name of the wat - The Great Relic Monastery of Lampang - comes from the belief that the Buddha himself once visited here and donated a tuft of his hair, now enshrined in the chedi. More pictures by Teleek





Wat Chedi Sao Lang วัดเจดีย์ซาวหลัง "The temple of twenty Chedis", on the north side of the city, alle Chedis are white with upper parts in Burmese style. There is also a Chiang Saen-style bronze Buddha statue, called "Phra Chao Than Chai" by the locals. Read Thailand for visitors.


Wat Pa Fang วัดป่าฝาง A Shan monastery. Inside it has huge round teak pillars lacquered red below and gilded above.

Lampang Hotels and Guesthouses

See the locations on Treasures of Lampang Google Map

Akhamsiri Home บ้านอคัมญ์สิริ(ที่พักและร้านอาหาร: 450 Baht plus breakfast. 54/1 Pa-mai khet Road, Tambon Wiang-neu. Boutique guesthouse in resort style. Bike for rent. Asia Lampang Hotel โรงแรมเอเซียลำปาง: From 490 to 700 Baht. 229 Boonyawat road. Read Review by virtualtourist.com. Pictures of room on teakdoor.com Boonma Guesthouse, also Huean Bunma: rom 100 to 350 Baht. 256 Taladkao Rd. Two rooms in an old wooden house in the Chinese quarter. These rooms are better than rooms in another building. Read reviews on travelfish.org and Fodor's An original description also by Daniel in his blog No Places As Home June Hotel: From 150 to 300 Baht. 285 Bunyawat Rd. Kim City Hotel คิม ซิตี้: 274/1 Chatchai Road. Kim Hotel คิม: 168 Boonyawat Rd. Khelang Nakorn Hotel เขลางค์นคร :18 Suandok Rd Lampang River Lodge โรงแรมลำปางริเวอร์ลอดจ์ From 2400 to 4700 Baht. 286 Taladkao Rd. 330 Moo 11 Tambol Chompoo. 60 Bungalows, swimming pool. A bit out of town, but quiet. Be prepared for mosquitoes. There are rooms with glass windows and rooms with just mosquito net in the windows. The resort sits on an area of 25 rai of lush green undergrowth and trees on the banks of the Wang River. There is a 4,5 kilometer long walking and jogging path and you can rent bikes or go for a bike tour. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com. Also reviews on travelfish.org M.R.Palace Hotel เอ็มอาร์พาเลซ: From 450 to 800 Baht. 5/2 Montri Road. Pin Hotel พิณ โฮเต็ลFrom 450 to 850 Baht. 8 Suandok Road. Near wat. Regent Lodge Hotel โรงแรมรีเจนท์ ลอด์จ ลำปาง From 700 to 1000 Baht. 279/3 Phaholyothin Road. Riverside Guesthouse เดอะ ริเวอร์ไซด์ เกสท์เฮ้าส์: From 300 to 850 Baht. 286 Taladkao Rd. Teakhouse on Wang River, some rooms with balconies and verandas facing the river. Some good reviews von travelfish.org. Good review on virtualtourist.com Veranda of Riverside Guesthouse, picture by Travellogue of Ferg & Jude Riverside Patio, picture by Megan and Michael Romsrithong Hotel โรงแรมร่มศรีทอง: 142 Boonyawat Rd. Read review by travelfish.org TipChang Hotel โรงแรมทิพย์ช้าง: From 960 to 1850 BAht. 22 Takrow Noi Rd. Sobtui. Not good reviews on tripadvisor.com Tip Inn Guesthouse: From 100 to 270 Baht. 143 Talat Kao road. Critical review on virtualtourist.com TT&T Guesthouse ห้องพักราคาประหยัด: 82 Phamai Road. From 200 to 350 Baht. Teak wood house along the Wang river. They rent bikes. Wienglakor Hotel โรงแรมเวียงลคอร: 138/38 Phaholyothin Road. Not so good reviews on tripadvisor.com Wiengthong Hotel โรงแรมลำปางเวียงทอง From 1100 to 4200 Baht. 138/109 Phaholyothin Rd. Swimming pool. "Average", according to reviews on tripadvisor.com. One of the city's best hotels, means Fodor's. "Really quite good", wrote The Nation.