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LAMPANG
This province covers an area of 12,534 square kilometers. The
provincial capital is approximately 100 kilometers south of
Chiang Mai and 600 kilometers north of Bangkok. Lampang enjoys
fame as the only Thai provincial capital in which horse drawn
carriages are an everyday mode of transport, and for its
Elephant Conservation Center some 35 kilometers north of the
provincial capital. Each year, generally during February, the
Center organizes a fund-raising Elephant Khantoke Fair. The
provincial capital contains several Burmese- style temples of
note. Lampang's oldest temple, Wat Lampang Luang, entirely
rebuilt during the 1500s, is believed to be the sole remaining
part of a fortresses city that thrived more than a millenium
ago, and which was probably founded by Queen Chamma Thewi of the
neighboring Hariphunchai kingdom. The queen is believed to have
had two sons, one of whom became the king of Lamphun, the other
the king of Lampang. The temple is considered to be one of the
finest examples of northern Thai religious architecture and
contains fine examples of northern woodcarving. Legend has it
the temple was occupied more than 200 years ago by Burmese
invaders, who were expelled, when Thai soldiers crept through
drains to surprise and overwhelm the enemy. The provincial
capital, some 20 kilometers distant, is noteworthy for
Burmese-style temples, which clearly illustrate the cultural
influences Thailand's powerful neighbor had throughout Lanna
Thai. Such enclaves include Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao, whose
multi-roofed chapel dates from the late 1700s, and Wat Chedi
Sao, where twenty white Burmese-style pagodas comprise major
architectural features. The Kiu Lom Dam, some 38 kilometers from
the provincial capital on the Lampang-Ngao Highway, has a scenic
reservoir with bungalow and raft accommodation. The 225
square-kilometer Doi Khuntan National Park and Chae Son National
Park offer scenic exhilaration and waterfalls and hot spa
facilities respectively. Lampang is conveniently accessible by
road, rail and air from Bangkok, and Chiang Mai.
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