Introduction

Lampang is primarily known as Horse Carriage City “Muang Roth Ma” as horse carriages commonly seen by visitors portray people’s ways of life and their familiarity with them. At present, Lampang is the only town in Thailand where horse carriages public transport. Tourists can feel the liveliness  as well as listen to the description about the historical sites in Lampang by horse driver.

In addition horse carriages, another real symbol of Lampang province hardly known by people is “Kai Kau” (white cock) which stands in front of the city gate as the emblem of Lampang. Moreover, the picture of “Kai Kau” is commonly found on signposts, bridges and old buildings. It has been retold that during Buddha period Buddha visited this province. When Indra knew, he was afraid that people would not get up in himself as “Kai Kau” to wake the people up. Lampang is therefore called “Kukkuk Nakorn” meaning “Kai Kau”. The sound “kikkuk” is similar to cock’s cry but the source if sound is originally unknown.

The northern region is the mostly agricultural. A great number of houses are built on either side of the river. Human settlement in northern Thailand were villages, small towns or large towns which were classified according to their degree of importance. The monastery or wat (temple) was the cultural center of the village. The village market (talad) met local economic needs.

Townspeople followed a wide range of occupations. Town was located near water and supported fairly large populations. Wiang was a kind of town which means an area encircled by walls and moats. There were two kinds of very small northern Thai towns. The first wiang was used as a defense position in times of unrest. In evidence, potsherds are seldom found at these sites, presumably because they were occupied for only short periods. The second wiang, wiang phrathat, served religious purposes. Some district or monasteries were formally designated as wiang the principal edifice of the monastery is the Phrathat. Year after year, villages pay homage to the Phrathat.

The large town was called “Nakhon”. These would usually be not one large wiang but an ordered group of wiang.The largest and most important would be the wiang of the capital Khelang Nakhon, also called Lampang, was the most important Muang in the northern Wang Valley. Evidence found from Wang Valley shows that in 680 A.D. Phra chow Arnantayod, was the first ruler of Kheland Nakhon with areas about 600 rai on the northern bank of Wang river of Wang Nuea at present. Phrachow Arnantayod was one of the twin sons of Phranang Jammatherwee, the ruling queen of Hariphunchai Kingdom.

Wiang Phrathat Lampang Luang is the most important religious wiang in the entire province. Wiang Phrathat Lampang Luang, 18 kilometers southwest of Lampang in Kao Kha District, is a roughly rectangular site. It is marked by remains of triple earthen walls separated by moats. Local historical records give the name of one particular wiang as Lamphakappa Nakhon. There is a legend that the Lord Buddha visited this spot in his lifetime and predicted a fine for the province. Such as belief were once instrumental in ensuring the upkeep and restoration of a monastery.

Phrayah Muangrai established Kingdom of Lanna at the Kok River in the north of Kheland Nakhon. During the 13th century, he marched an army and seized with Kingdom of Hariphunchai. Finally, he occupied both Hariphunchai and Khelang Nakhon, which was under Kingdom of Hariphunchai and thus became the ruler. Until 1558 A.D. Lanna was a dependency of Myanmar for 200 years but sometimes it was under the Kingdom of Ayudhaya which was the strong domain in the south. On the time Kingdom of Ayudhaya was the strong domain in the south. The art objects were the trace of the extensive influence.

Myanmar occupied many towns in the North. The center rule was in Nakhon Chiang Mai. Until 1732 A.D., Taomahayod, the ruler of Hariphunchai, marched an army at Wiang Phrathat Lampang Luang and seized with Nanthipchang who was the hunter. Taomahayod was shot with a cannon at Vihara Luang by Nanthipchang. He became Lampang’s rule after he freed Lampang to be from Myanmar’s rule. After that, there was the coronation for Nanthipchang who won his crown by conquest.

The King Krungthonburi commanded Chow Ka wheela, the nephew of Nanthipchang to be Lampang’s ruler after Chow Kawheela cooperated with the southern people to seize with Myanmar. Later, Chow Kawsom, Chow Kawheela’s brother, Who was Lampang’s ruler after Chow Kawheela was promoted to be the ruler of Nakhon Chiang Mai.

In period of Chow Norranantachai Chawalit, the ninth ruler in the region of King Rama V in 1872-1897 A.D., Nakhon Lampang was a prosperous center of teakwood business on Talad Gao Road. Most owner of business was Burmese and lived in Tamaho community at Tambon wiang Nuea. Many monasteries in Burmese style were built in many places.

Phraya Suren Radchasena was the deputy in Lampang after Chow Boonyawartwongsmanit, the last Lampang’s ruler who died in 1922 A.D. He was the first governor of Lampang province in the reign of King Rama VI

According to technology development of aircraft, during World War II, the airplane named Lampang, was used in Lampang Airport at Amphoe Kao Kha. This airport was an important role to Japanese’s airbase. On August 14, 1945 A.D. the Japanese emperor signed to admit defeat in the war and Thai government declared the peace. After three days of the peace declearing, the Hara-kiri was made by Japanese generals in Lampang in order to show their loyalty. After the war was ended, many important and interesting places have remained until now.  

The horse carriages were only used as a mean of transportation in Lampang province during the reign of King Rama V. The first horse carriage was bought from Bangkok. Later, the horse carriages were wide-spread from Nakhon Lampang to Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast, Nakhon Si Thammarat in the South and Nakhon Chiang Mai, Muang Chiang Rai, Muang Phrae, Muang Nan and Muang Mae Hong Son in the North. Nowadays, the hourse carriages are still used in Lampang as a mean of urban transportation.

The wheeled vehicle in Lampang was found by Khun Uthankhadee in 1949 A.D., after 39 years of using horse carriage. In 1952 A.D., Chow Boonsong Na Lampnag changed the name of the wheeled vehicle to “horse carriage” in Lampang. At present, there are 70 horse carriages in Lampang and only 50 horse carriages provide service all day for the tourists to get around the town. According to technology development, the outstanding development in Lampang was the railway station service. The first running train service from the northern route to Nakhon Lampang station, main terminal, was on April 1, 1916 A.D. in the reign of King Rama VI. Passengers were brought from Nakhon Lampang Station to Muang (town) by the horse carriage, called “Roth Ma Taxi”.

The main railway station of Lampang, that connects with 3 of the northern railway routes, located at Tambon Soptui, Amphoe Muang. In Accordance with the development of Lampang, the suburb area is developed to be central business district. After the railway route from Khuntan tunnel to Chiang Mai was built in 1921 A.D., Lampang has become the center of transportation. Goods are transported by the railway from Bangkok to northern and from the north to Bangkok by passing through Tambon Soptui. Therefore, Tambon soptui was fast prosperous and many buildings were constructed. Tourist can get the Roth Ma Taxi service to get around the town. The horse driver wear classic deluxe style cowboy outfit.

Site Map: Lampang

::: Introduction

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Lampang Reservation