Taking Tramcar To Tour and Touch the Old Days Atmosphere of Lamphun

             As for this trip, we, Moohin.com, recommend you to take a tramcar for sightseeing the ancient city in the past, Lamphun province. Lamphun is a small province that has uniqueness of its own. There are temples, and old-styled houses locating on both side of road in the province. Although Lamphun is just a small province, the Lamphun city, known as Hariphunchai Kingdom, have the longest history in Lanna Kingdom. Hariphunchai Kingdom had been prosperous over 600 years ago; especially in terms of Buddhism, prior to King Mengrai founded Chiang Mai City. So the Lamphun city is suitable for sightseeing temples, handicrafts, arts and culture, as well as in particular the old city area in Muang District of Lamphun.

            Therefore the Lamphun Province officials established strategies in terms of efficient development of tourism to make it more popular. This brings about to a tramcar service by two trams for tourists to take them to see 12 tourist attractions of Lamphun on the project “Tram Taking around Lamphun, The City of Virtue of Lanna”. The tramcar is served daily; twice a day (morning and afternoon trip), which it is in front of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai Temple to serve. It is expected that the project can rejuvenate tourism of Lamphun.

            Before taking the tramcar in front of the temple, we, Moohin.com, have to buy a ticket at 50 THB. a person. Moreover there is also a tour guide explaining places and answering questions of tourists. Are you ready? If so, let’s go!

            The first place is Wat Phra That Hariphunchai Woramahaviharn that is a symbol of Lamphun. Its pagoda is one of the eight Great Chedi of Siam and is the Pagoda of the Year of the Cock. It was built during the reign of King Athitayarat in Hariphunchai period about one thousand years ago. Phra That Hariphunchai is the oldest pagoda of the north. In the temple there are important archaeological sites which are Suwan Cehci or Patumwadee Chedi, bell tower, Hor Trai (a hall for keeping the scripture, Viharn Phra Chao Tan Chai, Viharn Phra Chao Lawoh, Viharn Phra Sangkhajai, Ubosot Phra Chao Tong Thip, Kang Sadarn Tower, Viharn Phra Non, Viharn Phra Daeng, and a museum of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai.

            The second place: Hariphunchai museum, established for 80 years, is a place where keep antiques from prehistoric period to Hariphunchai period and Lanna period. There are several interesting antiques here such as Buddha image that has moustache, Phra Singha, the biggest stone inscription of Thailand, skeleton of Baan Wang Hai aged around 5,000 years.

            The third place: Urban Lamphun Community Museum was formerly Chao Rachasampundhawong’s residence where was built in 2455 B.E. during the reign of Chao Luang Chakkam Khajornsak, the last governor of Lamphun. The museum exhibits history, culture, tradition and way of life of Lamphun people approximately 100 years ago such as photographs in the past (e.g. a photo of stationary shop), as well as old things like post box, tricycle, etc.

            The fourth place: Queen Chammathevi Monument, the first Queen who reigned Hariphunchai Kingdom, was built in 2525 B.E. The monument portrays a beauty of local woman whose face is like ‘Mon’ people. The gesture of its right hand is raised and the palm facing outwards like she is providing virtue or good things to her people. The left hand holds a mace which reflects being a great warrior. The shape of the monument is magnificent and its size is bigger than real human. It was forged with bronze. The background of the monument is Gopura arch with styles of Tawaravadee and Lawo.

            The fifth place is Wat Chammathevi (Goo Gut or Suwan Chankot). The bone ashes of Queen Chammathevi were placed in the Chedi by Prince Mahantayot (one of her son) who built the stupa. It is a square-shaped, five-tiered stupa with 60 Buddha images inside the arch room on the stupa. Another is an octagon-shaped pagoda, named ‘Rattana Chedi’.

            The sixth place is Wat Mahawan. It is a temple where is the origin of Phra Rod Lamphun which is one of the great-grand-five amulets or ‘Phra Kruang Benja Phakee’, which are ‘Phra Somdet Wat Rakhang’, ‘Phra Rod Maha Wan’, ‘Phra Nang Phaya’, ‘Phra Phong Suphan’, and ‘Phra Sum Kor’. It is regarded as the best of Thai amulets in Lamphun family which was found at Wat Mahawan.

            The seventh place is Wat Phrakong Ruesee. It is a temple where originate a very well-known Buddha image, named ‘Phra Kong’. Also the temple is a place where five ascetics who had founded Hariphunchai City met.

            The eighth place is Lamphun Police Station Museum. It is an ancient wooden building aging over 100 years applied as a museum kept old photographs, ancient Buddha images found at Wat Phra Kong Ruesee, as well as many kind of weapons.

            The ninth place is Wat San Pah Yang Luang. Its former name is Wat Malukaram or Wat Pah Yang Sai. It is a zone of Brahmin temple and Hindu architecture used to be found here such as Phra U-ma, Phra Pikhanet, lingam (or ‘Siwa Luenk). Moreover Wat Pah Yang Sai is a place where held a funeral ceremony of the Queen Chammathevi. Now it is the center of skillful ‘Yong’ craftsmen. Here there is a large viharn which is placed by ‘Phra Kong Kheuw’ and a museum kept hundreds of amulet family.

            The tenth place is ‘Goo Chang Goo Mah’ where has been paid respect by Lamphun people for long time. Now it is a spirit shrine of a war elephant (‘Sarn Chao Poh Chang’) because it is believed that this place is ‘Goo’ or a cemetery built to be placed bone ashes of a war elephant of Prince Mahantayot and Prince Anantayot, twin sons of Queen Chammathevi. As for ‘Goo Mah’, it is a spirit shrine of a war horse of the Queen Chammathevi, which the elephant and the horse signifies the 7 gems that shows being a great empress of hers.

            The eleventh place is Wat Phra Yuen whose former name is Wat Arunmikaram. It is one plantation temple of four temples in four directions of the city, which the temple located in the east. There is a main pagoda whose architectural style is like a pavilion (or ‘Prasat Mondop’) which was built like ‘Pukam’ architectural style, such as Ananta Chedi. It is renovated in the reign of Chao Luang Intayongyotchot, a governor of Lamphun. Besides, there are a hall viharn (‘Viharn Thong’) or ‘Sala Kao Hong’, a stone inscription (or ‘Sila Charuk’ in Thai) which the first line of Thai alphabets was inscribed in the northern region; which is described that King Kuena invited Phra Sumana Thera of Sukhothai to promote ‘Langkawong’ Buddhism. Before staying at Wat Suan Dok and building Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Phra Sumana Thera had stayed at Wat Phra Yuen.

            The twelfth place is War Ton Kaew whose former name is Wat Cheta Wanaram. In Hariphunchai period, a stone inscription was found, which Ancient ‘Mon’ alphabets were inscribed and indicated a name of king, named ‘Phaya Sappasit’ who ordained during his reign and built three stupas at Wat Ton Kaew. In Wat Ton Kaew there are many interesting things such as Ton Koh Chedi that is a round-shaped, Lanna-styled stupa, adorned Buddha image in the large viharn, ‘Yong’ local museum, ancient style cotton weaving house, etc.

            Furthermore there is ‘Kad Khua Mung’ (a bridge with a roof) on a wooden bridge with a roof that is a bridge crossing over Guang River. The ‘Kad Khua Mung’ is a market selling OTOP products of Lamphun such as hand-weaved cotton cloth, dried longan fruit, carved wood product, ready-made local cloth, fragrant joss-stick and candle, etc.

            If you don’t want to drive a car yourself around Lamphun city, you can take the tramcars parking in front of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai to serve visitors every day at 9.00-12.00 hr. and 13.30-16.30 hr.; only 50 baht a person!

 

moohin.com One stop webside for your trips...
Exclusive travel Stories, Pictures and Videos By Moohin teams