Lampang travel guide: teak temples, horse carts and old bridges

Wat Phra That Lampang Luang

About 18 kilometres south-west of town, Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is a walled temple whose open-sided, three-tiered teak wihan luang dates from the 1400s and is considered by many to be Thailand's oldest teak building, according to TAT. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports' directory lists opening from 8:00 to 17:00.

Take time over the jataka murals and the smaller halls, and the Lanna museum in the grounds. The temple is a place of worship, and women are traditionally not permitted inside some relic structures; follow the signs.

The old town by horse cart

TAT describes Lampang's horse-drawn carriages as unique to the city in Thailand. A carriage or a walking tour can link the teak City Pillar Shrine, Ban Sao Nak — a large teak house on many pillars — and the riverside streets.

The Ratsada Bridge over the Wang River was first built in 1894 as the longest bridge in Thailand, and the current version was finished in 1917, TAT notes; it survived Allied bombing in the Second World War. Nakhon Lampang railway station, opened in 1916 when it was the kingdom's northernmost station, blends Lanna and European styles.

Teak-era temples

Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao was home to the Emerald Buddha between 1436 and 1468, according to TAT, and has a Lanna museum in its grounds. Wat Chedi Sao Lang, named for its 20 Lanna-style chedis (sao means twenty in the northern dialect), keeps a solid-gold seated Buddha of about 1,500 grams in a glass pavilion over a pond.

The teak trade also brought Burmese and Shan craftsmen, whose temples, such as Wat Si Rong Mueang, have layered wooden roofs and carved eaves unlike Lanna halls.

On the hills a few kilometres outside town, a temple viewpoint gives a wide view over Lampang and is a quiet place at the end of the day.

The Thai Elephant Conservation Center

Between Lampang and Chiang Mai, the Thai Elephant Conservation Center was established in 1993 under royal patronage and cares for more than 50 elephants, according to the directory. It runs an elephant hospital and educational programmes.

Choose experiences that focus on care and observation. Check what each programme involves before booking, and avoid activities you are not comfortable with.

Getting there and on

TAT notes that Lampang is easily reached by train or bus from Chiang Mai, and works well on a five- to seven-day road trip through Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae and Nan. The northern railway passes through the Khun Tan tunnel, Thailand's longest, between the two cities.

Lampang also has a small airport with flights from Bangkok. In town, horse carts, songthaews and bicycles cover the old centre.