Lampang

A northern Thai old town where horse carriages still clip through the streets, lined with teak mansions and Burmese-style temples, with Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, a clifftop white-pagoda temple and the Thai Elephant Conservation Center nearby.

Lampang is the capital of Lampang Province in northern Thailand, located about 100 km southeast of Chiang Mai in the valley of the Wang River. Historically known as Nakhon Lampang, its history dates back to the Hariphunchai era of the 7th century, and it later became an important center of the Lanna Kingdom. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, British teak companies and Burmese timber merchants flocked here, leaving behind numerous teak mansions and Burmese-style temples, giving the city its blend of Lanna, Burmese and colonial styles. Lampang is also the only city in Thailand where horse carriages are still used for sightseeing, earning it the nickname 'City of Horse Carriages', and it is famous as the home of the 'chicken bowl' ceramics.

The best time to visit is the cool season from Nov to Feb, with daytime temperatures around 25–30°C and cool mornings and evenings; Mar–May is hot and dry, often with haze from crop burning; during the Jun–Oct rainy season the waterfalls in the mountain national parks are at their fullest.

The city's sights are concentrated along both banks of the Wang River and can be explored on foot or by hired horse carriage: Kad Kong Ta, the old street on the north bank, hosts a weekend night market, and nearby are the teak house Baan Sao Nak and the Burmese-style temples Wat Si Rong Mueang and Wat Pongsanuk; in the east of town is Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao, which once housed the Emerald Buddha. Classic day trips include Wat Phra That Lampang Luang about 18 km southwest, the Thai Elephant Conservation Center about 35 km toward Chiang Mai, and the clifftop white-pagoda temple (Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat) and the hot springs of Chae Son National Park about 50–60 km to the north.

Getting there: buses from Chiang Mai take about 1.5–2 hours, or the State Railway of Thailand's Northern Line about 2–3 hours; Lampang Airport has direct flights from Bangkok. In town you can hire a horse carriage (from about 400 baht for a loop of the city) or ride a songthaew; for outlying sights, hire a car with driver or drive yourself. Allow 2–3 days, an easy extension to a Chiang Mai trip. Temples require clothing that covers the knees and removing your shoes, and women are not permitted in some stupa areas.

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