Lampang

The charming city of horse drawn carriages and province with the kings stable of white elephants at the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center.

Most visitors simply visit Lampang to see the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center, bypassing Lampang town on their way to Chiang Mai and provinces farther north. However, while the elephant center is certainly a must-see attraction, those willing to spend some time in the provincial capital are generally surprised by the charming and somewhat unusual town and province of Lampang.

Famous for its horse-drawn carriages and sporting a rooster on its provincial emblem (the bird also honored with a large statue in the center of town), Lampang boasts a long history of human settlements within the Wang River basin, some of which date back more than 1,000 years. Lampang is rich in archaeological evidence from the kingdoms of Hariphunchai, Lanna, and Burma.

The horse and carriage, a mode of local transportation that has survived the introduction of automobiles to Lampang, is a fun way to explore the surprisingly large town, which features a number of beautiful old temples. The rooster statue, which you are likely to pass along the way, is a much older symbol of Lampang, dating back to the citys former name, Kukutthanakorn, or City of Roosters, a name that was derived from a local legend about a white rooster that was sent by the Brahmin God Indra to wake the local inhabitants so they could give alms to the Lord Buddha, who was purportedly visiting the town.

On the road from Lampang to Chiang Mai is the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center, the oldest and only government sponsored elephant center in Thailand, where the Kings white elephants are housed, visitors can learn about elephants, and elephant demonstrations are regularly performed.

Lampang city is the capital of the province of the same name, a city that features horse drawn carriages, relaxing riverside bars and restaurants, a number of spectacular Buddhist temples, and a friendly, laid-back local population. Just outside of the city, on the road to Chiang Mai, the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center is one of the premier venues for visitors to learn about elephants and watch elephant demonstrations.

Transport

Lampang is best reached via private car or public bus; it is located at the intersection of Highways No. 1 and 11, both major thoroughfares leading to northern Thailand. Once there, it may be easier to get around with your own car, but there are standard forms of local transport available for visitors as well as horse-drawn carriages, though these are really more practical for touring town rather than getting from A to B.

Getting to and from Lampang

By Train:

Regular trains depart from Bangkok's Hua Lumphong Railway Station to Lampang daily. Call 1690 or visit www.railway.co.th for more information.

From Chiang Mai, all trains heading south stop in Lampang, a 2 to 2 ½ hour ride depending on the class of train.

To get to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center is quite easy from Lampang town or Chiang Mai as it is located along Highway No.11 between the two cities. For detailed information from either location visit the FAQ page at the TECC: http://www.changthai.com/knowledge/article/how-to-get-to-thai-elephant-conservation-center

By Car:

From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 32 to Nakhon Sawan via Sing Buri and Chai Nat, and then turn into Highway No. 1 again to go to Lampang via Kamphaeng Phet and Tak, a total distance of 599 kilometers.

From Chiang Mai, Lampang is a short drive, about 1 ½ hours southeast along Highway No. 11.

By Bus:

The Transport Co. Ltd. operates both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned busses to Lampang. Buses leave Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) daily.

Several private busses also provide bus service, including Wiriya Tour,
Tel: 0 2936 2827 and New Wiriya Tour Tel: 0 2936 2205-6.

By Air:

- Bangkok Airway has flights from Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport to Lampang. For schedule or bookings contact 0 2270 6699 www.bangkokair.com

- Solar Air contact 02-535-2455-6 www.solarair.co.th

Getting Around Lampang

Horse drawn carriages are available by the hour for sightseeing journeys around Lampang Town. As in most rural Thai provinces there are typically songtaews, tuk tuks, and motorbike taxis available for getting around.

Transport

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