Lamphun Tourist Attractions

A quiet Lamphun can be a nice surprise if you come without high expectations. There are several interesting temples to visit within the city boundaries and a couple of forest and national parks, easily reachable from Lamphun, will make your stay if not memorable then at least pleasant.

Hariphunchai National Museum

Before heading to the temples and historic buildings, a visit to the national museum will give you a better idea of what Lamphun has been through its long history. Located in the heart of the old city in Inthayongyot Road, the museum occupies three different rooms where artefacts and antiques of various periods are displayed, starting from pre-Hariphunchai age and further on through the Hariphuchai period and to Lanna and Rattanakosin era. One of the rooms displays stone inscriptions made throughout all the periods. The museum is open from 9:00am till 4:00pm but keep in mind that it’s closed on Monday, Tuesday and public holidays.

Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai Woramahawihan

Just a few steps from the museum, Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai Woramahawihan is the most recognizable and revered construction in town –Phra Borommathat, an impressive golden chedi built in the 12th century to host the reliquary with the relics of Lord Buddha’s hair. The pagoda was reconstructed in the 15th century and since then no major renovation work has been done. Every year on the full moon night of the 6th lunar month a big ceremony is held to pay respect to the chedi and its precious relics.

Worth of mention is the hall containing various Buddha’s images made of stones and brick and the main gate featuring old statues of Singha, a mythological animal in Thai tradition better known to foreigners for being the logo of a popular beer brand which actually got its name after this creature.

The temple can be visited every day from 6:00am till 6:00pm; the entrance fee of THB20 is collected from all the visitors.

Phra Suwannachedi

Next to Phra Borommathat, Phra Suwannachedi was built only 4 years later, and it’s quite interesting to see the difference in style reflecting the various influences that religious architecture in Thailand was experiencing in those day. A simple square prang built of bricks and covered with Buddha’s images, it’s a rare example of Khmer architecture in this area.

Wat Chammathewi

To get to this temple, you have to exit the old city and walk west along Chammathewi Rd for 1,5 km. The main construction here is the pagoda built in 755 to host the ashes of Phranang Chammathewi, the first ruler of the city. Other pagodas and chedis built few centuries later can be visited too making it worth a short walk to get there.

Doi Khamo

Doi Khamo is an extinct volcano 20 km out of town. The crater sits at 465 m above the sea level and to reach it visitors have to climb 1749 steps. Besides the nice view from the top, the place is considered sacred and the water of the lake in the crater has been used for centuries during the coronation ceremony of every king. A nice easy drive south of town brings you there or you can get a motorbike taxi for THB300.

Doi Khun Tan National Park

Shared with the neighbouring province of Lampang, Doi Khun Tan NP is easily accessible from Lamphun, stretching just 40 km away. One of the oldest national parks in Thailand, even if it’s not as impressive as other parks in terms of wildlife, it still offers good opportunities for bird watchers, easy hiking trails starting from the park headquarters and nice views from the top of the highest peak in the park reachable via the main trail from the entrance (10 km long). Accommodation options are available in the park, too.

Doi Khun Tan NP is open every day from 6:00am to 6:00pm.