LAMPANG
Thai Term GlossaryAmphoe : DistrictBan : VillageChedi : Stupa or PagodaKhao or Doi or Phu : MountainKhlong : CanalMueang : Town or CityNamtok : WaterfallTambon : Sub-districtTham : CaveUbosot or Bot : Ordination hall in a templeWihan : Image hall in a templeWat : TempleNote : English spelling here given tries toapproximate Thai pronunciation. Posted signsmay be spelled differently. When seeking helpfrom a Thai for directions, point to the Thaispellings given after each place name.Lampang is not second to any other provincesas a source of Lanna Thai civilisation. The peopleof Lampang possess a simple way of life withcustoms and traditions having been passeddown from ancient times. It is a city of its ownuniqueness, which comprises local architecture,temples, horse-drawn carriages, beautiful andpristine natural attractions, a former sourceof logging using elephants to haul logs; theelephant has become a symbol of the city,and famous kaolin pottery. All these thingsmake Lampang be a destination attractive totravellers.In the past, Lampang had many names:Si Don Chai, Lampha Kampa Nakhon, KhelangNakhon, and Kukkuttanakhon (Nakhon Kaicity of rooster). The word ‘Lampang’ means MaiPang. Legend has it that Mai Pang was a polethat Lua Ai Kon, a Lua hilltribe, used to carry acylinder of honey, coconuts, and bale fruits asofferings to the Lord Buddha who came to visitthe area. Then, the top of the pole was plantedin the ground and became a Khachao tree(Holoptelea integriforia Planch.), which nowcan be seen next to the Wihan Luang (greatimage hall) at Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang.The Khachao tree is different from other treesbecause its branches turn down toward theearth. This auspicious tree of Lampang is over2,500 years old. Khelang Nakhon comes froma Pali word existing in legend since the 18thcentury. The word Nakhon was changed fromLakhon. The name of Khelang Nakhon alsoappeared on inscription stones and in chronicles of the following periods. In speaking, the wordLakhon was pronounced Lakon and MueangLakhon had the same meaning as Wiang Lakon.Another legend tells that when the Lord Buddhavisited this city, God Indra transformedhimself into a white rooster and cooed towake up the people in time to give offeringsto the Lord Buddha. Thus, Lampang got thename Kukkutta Nakhon, which means thecity of the white rooster. The white rooster is,therefore, a symbol of the city commonly foundon road signs, bridges, buildings, or even thefamous rooster-branded bowls.From archaeological evidence, it was foundthat a community had lived in the area of thecity of Lampang for more than 3,000 years.The discovered things include paintings,ancient human skeletons, and pieces of potteryfrom the Hariphunchai period and shards ofSan Kamphaeng ceramics. Geographically,Lampang is a city in a wok-shaped valley,encompassed by a high and steep rangeof mountains. Some part of it emerges as agranite line on the Phi Pan Nam Range tothe west. In the past, a severe move of theEarth’s crust caused a giant plain basin and acomplex of mountains. Over a long period oftime, the basin turned into a large lake. Withsoil sediment and deposit of animal and plantfossils, it has become a plain being a source ofoil and lignite in Amphoe Mae Mo in the middlepart of Lampang city.HOW TO GET THEREBy car : From Bangkok, take Highway 1 toKilometres 52 and turn left to follow Highway32. Drive past Sing Buri, Chai Nat, to NakhonSawan. Then, turn left to follow Highway 1.Go on past Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, and towardLampang. The total distance is 599 kilometres,taking around 7 hours. From Phitsanulok, takea new road to Phrae’s Amphoe Den Chai andhead for Lampang.By bus : The Transport Company Limited hasdaily air-conditioned and non air-conditionedbus services to Lampang. For more information,call Tel. 1490 www.transport.co.thThere are private operators offering bus servicesbetween Bangkok and Lampang:- New Wiriya Tour, Tel. 0 2936 2205, 0 5422 7106- Sombat Tour, Tel. 0 2792 1456, 0 5432 5624www.sombattour.com- Phon Phiriya Tour, Tel. 0 2936 2939, 0 29363554, 0 5421 8199By train: The State Railway of Thailand (SRT)has daily express, rapid, and ordinary trainservices between Bangkok and Lampang. Formore information, call Tel. 1690, 0 2220 4444,the Nakhon Lampang Railway Station at Tel.0 5421 7024, 0 5431 8648 www.railway.co.thBy Air : There are many direct flights fromBangkok to Lampang everyday by;- Nok Air Tel. 1318 www.nokair.com- Bangkok Airways Tel. 1771, 0 2265 5678www.bangkokair.comDistances from Amphoe MueangLampang to Other DistrictsKo Kha 13 kilometresHang Chat 18 kilometresMae Tha 26 kilometresSoem Ngam 40 kilometresMae Mo 45 kilometresChae Hom 52 kilometresSop Prap 59 kilometresMueang Pan 69 kilometresNgao 83 kilometresThoen 96 kilometresWang Nuea 107 kilometresMae Phrik 125 kilometre
Thai Term GlossaryAmphoe DistrictBan VillageChedi Stupa or PagodaKhao or Doi or Phu MountainKhlong CanalMueang Town or CityNamtok WaterfallTambon Sub-districtTham CaveUbosot or Bot Ordination hall in templeWihan Image hall in templeWat TempleNote English spelling here given tries toapproximate Thai pronunciation Posted signsmay be spelled differently When seeking helpfrom Thai for directions point to the Thaispellings given after each place name .Lampang is not second to any other provincesas source of Lanna Thai civilisation The peopleof Lampang possess simple way of life withcustoms and traditions having been passeddown from ancient times It is city of its ownuniqueness which comprises local architecture ,temples, horse-drawn carriages beautiful andpristine natural attractions former sourceof logging using elephants to haul logs theelephant has become symbol of the city ,and famous kaolin pottery All these thingsmake Lampang be destination attractive totravellers .In the past Lampang had many names :Si Don Chai Lampha Kampa Nakhon KhelangNakhon and Kukkuttanakhon (Nakhon Kaicity of rooster ). The word ‘Lampang’ means MaiPang Legend has it that Mai Pang was polethat Lua Ai Kon Lua hilltribe used to carry acylinder of honey coconuts and bale fruits asofferings to the Lord Buddha who came to visitthe area Then the top of the pole was plantedin the ground and became Khachao tree (Holoptelea integriforia Planch .), which nowcan be seen next to the Wihan Luang (greatimage hall at Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang .The Khachao tree is different from other treesbecause its branches turn down toward theearth This auspicious tree of Lampang is over 2,500 years old Khelang Nakhon comes froma Pali word existing in legend since the 18 thcentury The word Nakhon was changed fromLakhon The name of Khelang Nakhon alsoappeared on inscription stones and in chronicles of the following periods In speaking the wordLakhon was pronounced Lakon and MueangLakhon had the same meaning as Wiang Lakon .Another legend tells that when the Lord Buddhavisited this city God Indra transformedhimself into white rooster and cooed towake up the people in time to give offeringsto the Lord Buddha Thus Lampang got thename Kukkutta Nakhon which means thecity of the white rooster The white rooster is ,therefore, symbol of the city commonly foundon road signs bridges buildings or even thefamous rooster-branded bowls .From archaeological evidence it was foundthat community had lived in the area of thecity of Lampang for more than 3,000 years .The discovered things include paintings ,ancient human skeletons and pieces of potteryfrom the Hariphunchai period and shards ofSan Kamphaeng ceramics Geographically ,Lampang is city in wok-shaped valley ,encompassed by high and steep rangeof mountains Some part of it emerges as agranite line on the Phi Pan Nam Range tothe west In the past severe move of theEarth ’s crust caused giant plain basin and acomplex of mountains Over long period oftime the basin turned into large lake Withsoil sediment and deposit of animal and plantfossils it has become plain being source ofoil and lignite in Amphoe Mae Mo in the middlepart of Lampang city .HOW TO GET THEREBy car From Bangkok take Highway toKilometres 52 and turn left to follow Highway 32 Drive past Sing Buri Chai Nat to NakhonSawan Then turn left to follow Highway .Go on past Kamphaeng Phet Tak and towardLampang The total distance is 599 kilometres ,taking around hours From Phitsanulok takea new road to Phrae ’s Amphoe Den Chai andhead for Lampang .By bus The Transport Company Limited hasdaily air-conditioned and non air-conditionedbus services to Lampang For more information ,call Tel 1490 www .transport.co.thThere are private operators offering bus servicesbetween Bangkok and Lampang :- New Wiriya Tour Tel 2936 2205 5422 7106 Sombat Tour Tel 2792 1456 5432 5624 www .sombattour.com- Phon Phiriya Tour Tel 2936 2939 29363554 5421 8199 By train The State Railway of Thailand (SRT)has daily express rapid and ordinary trainservices between Bangkok and Lampang Formore information call Tel 1690 2220 4444 ,the Nakhon Lampang Railway Station at Tel .0 5421 7024 5431 8648 www .railway.co.thBy Air There are many direct flights fromBangkok to Lampang everyday by ;- Nok Air Tel 1318 www .nokair.com- Bangkok Airways Tel 1771 2265 5678 www .bangkokair.comDistances from Amphoe MueangLampang to Other DistrictsKo Kha 13 kilometresHang Chat 18 kilometresMae Tha 26 kilometresSoem Ngam 40 kilometresMae Mo 45 kilometresChae Hom 52 kilometresSop Prap 59 kilometresMueang Pan 69 kilometresNgao 83 kilometresThoen 96 kilometresWang Nuea 107 kilometresMae Phrik 125 kilometre