Lamphun History

Lamphun Introduction

“Phra Thad temple of renown, holy Buddhist relic, famous lamyai, quality garlic, beautiful traditions…Hariphunchai, land of Chamadevi”

Originally called the Kingdom of Hariphunchai, Lamphun was built in the 6th century AD. A hermit is believed to have gathered the Mon people together to build this town located between two rivers, the Guang and Ping. Once built, the hermit sent an envoy to invite the daughter of the ruler of the Lawo people to become queen. Queen Chamadevi and her descendants ruled Hariphunchai for multiple generations. In the 18th century Chao Kawila was encouraged by the court of Thonburi in central Thailand to take control of the north and he brought in people to rebuild Chiang Mai, also placing his brother as ruler of Lamphun.

Lamphun fell under the rule of Bangkok under the Ratanakosin era until 1932 when it was fully incorporated into the Kingdom of Siam and named a province.

Lamphun Province has four major rivers running through it; Ping, Kuang, Tha and Li rivers. There are a total of eight districts; Muang Lamphun, Baan Thi, Mae Tha, Thung Hua Chang, Li, Ban Hong, Wiang Nong Long and Pa Sang.

Distance from Muang Lamphun to different districts;

Ban Thi 26kms
Mae Tha 25kms
Thung Hua Chang 100kms
Li 106kms
Ban Hong 40kms
Wiang Nong Long 45kms
Pa Sang 11kms

Distance from Muang Lamphun to neighbouring provinces;

Chiang Mai province 21kms
Lampang province 21kms
Thung Hua Chang 100kms
Tak province 244kms

Transportation

Self-drive: From Bangkok, drive along Vibhavadi Rangsit Road past Don Muang Pratum Thani and turn left at kilometer 32 up Phahonyothin Road (Highway 1) through Sing Buri, Chainat and Nakorn Sawan provinces. Turn left at Highway 11 towards Lamphun. The distance is 670kms and takes around eight hours.

Public transportation: There are numerous air-conditioned busses running this route from Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak) on Kampangpet Road 2. Contact The Transport Co., Ltd. At 0490, 05356 1263 www.transport.co.th.

By rail: There are daily trains departing Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station to Lamphun. Contact 1690, 022204444 and www.railway.co.th or at Lamphun’s train station at 0 5351 1016.

By air: There are no flights into Lamphun, but there are regular flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai with frequent buses from Chiang Mai’s Chang Phuak Bus Station to Lamphun running every half hour between 5am and 8.30pm. For flight details contact;

THAI Airways 023561111 or www.thaiairways.com
Nok Air 1318 www.nokair.com
Bangkok Airways 1771, 0 2270 6699 www.bangkokair.com
Thai Air Asia 0 2515 9999 www.airasia.com

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