Year of Ox: Phra That Lampang Luang Stupa, Lampang

Phra That Lampang Luang temple is an ancient temple of Lampang province.

Legend has it that when the Buddha reached the Samphagariwan village, a man called Khon offered him honey and coconuts. The Buddha predicted that there would be a city called Lampang there, then he gave a strand of his hair to Khon, which was later kept in the Lampang Luang stupa. After the Buddha entered nirvana, some Buddhist monks brought part of his relics to be kept there. The stupa is situated in an ancient city, which is believed to have served solely religious purposes.

There are many attractions in the temple such as the Wihan Phra Phut, a beautifully decorated traditional Lanna style wooden temple hall, where people, when looking through a small hole on the Wihan’s wall, can see an impression of the stupa on a piece of cloth placed inside the hall. Wihan Nam Taem contains ancient Lanna mural paintings. Wihan Luang houses Phra Chao Lan Thong, a significant Buddha image of the temple, as well as mural paintings from the reign of King Rama V depicting the Buddha’s life and his past lives. The hall of the Buddha’s Footprint (Ho Phra Phutthabat) is another place where the stupa’s impression can be seen, but women are not allowed to enter this hall. Ho Keo houses Phra Keo, the most important Buddha image of Lampang, which was taken from the Phra Keo Don Tao Suchadaram temple.

Location541 Ban Lampang Luang, Ko Kha district, Lampang

Getting there
By CarFrom Bangkok drive along highway no. 32 to Nakhon Sawan. Then take highway no. 1 passing through Tak to Lampang (approx. 599 km.). From Lampang, take highway no. 1 heading to Thoen and turn right at the 586th km. to Ko Kha district. Then turn right to highway no. 1034. Go straight for about 3 km. and the temple is on your left.