Location: Lampang
Top Things to do in Lampang
Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Lampang, Lampang Province
Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang (Thai: นครลำปาง, pronounced [náʔkʰɔːn lampaːŋ]) to differentiate from Lampang Province, is the third largest town in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang Province and the Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lakon and Khelang Nakhon. The city is a trading and transportation center. Lampang lies 601 km north of Bangkok and 101 km southeast of Chiang Mai.
Restaurants in Lampang
1. Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 109 reviews
Reviewed By Charbboon - Bangkok, Thailand
I have to say all the temples in Lampang are really really old and special although not always well protected or maintained. This one is no exception. The wooden roof is amazing. The legend tells the mystery story of how the emerald buddha came to be here because the elephants refused to go forward on their journey to bring this emerald buddha to its designated destination, Chiang mai if i remember correctly. There are some ancient master pieces of wooden craft shown around the temple although im a bit shocked to see these valuables just lying there in the open.
2. Wat Phra That Lampang Luang
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 355 reviews
Reviewed By DavidWGrant - Dallas, United States
Wat Phra That in Lamphang is truly a "must see", ranking in my top ten of Buddhist temples world-wide. While "ranking" temples is inherently absurd, I suppose, nonetheless, some grab your heart and mind - Wat Phra That is one of those! Plan a multi-hour visit, and just bask in the flow of curiosity, and calm, and color, and architecture, and grand setting that is Phra That! It is a tribute to the sheer magnetic power of this Wat, that even on our first visit here at last year's Loy Khrathong festival, the choking crowds, sword fighting and joyful noise from the street could not supplant the overwhelming awe one feels in this amazing place. Viewed from across the broad street in front, the place takes on the look of a vast citadel, elevated on its own hill and surrounded by buildings joined to form massive walls. The stairs up to the narrow, wooden-gated main entrance are only the beginning. There is something about the Lanna twist on Thai architecture that makes it more delicate, more vertical, and more sweeping, even on a large scale, and the entire site here is every bit Lanna. The seated-Buddha-within-Stupa inside the Wiharn has so much detail on the stupa that one could stare at it for an hour peacefully, and yet the details stand out, not as mere pattern or background, but as important elements, and the whole thing somehow does not distract from the Buddha inside. That alone is worth the climb. The site's layout is thematic, the flow is natural, everything is proportional, and nothing is out of place. The painting is textural, meditative and just outstanding. Old wooden pieces such as candle sconces that might now be in disuse, are restored and placed about as decoration, so that any restorations done to the buildings are never out of place with the history of the place. There are quiet places here, even at Loy Khrathong, and certainly in October! There are beautifully painted columns you want to touch, carvings that make you stare, and whether the place is stuffed full of people or nearly empty (all hail October!) a reverence prevails that cannot be broken. This is a breathtaking place not to be missed!
3. Chae Son National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 140 reviews
Reviewed By Nhayaciel
This place is excellent spot to leave everthing behind and enjoy hot tubs in the huts, eat boiled egg in the hot springs and massage while surronding with the sound of waterfall, beautiful garden view & tree with fresh air, I am so lelax here and want to visit again
4. Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By Favolo
On an overnight visit to Lampang from Chiang Mai, the Dhanabadee seemed like just the type of offbeat attraction I often favor. The actual museum visit, with a guide, was great on it's own. The story of the factory is fascinating, to say the least, and while obviously most items are now produced elsewhere, the original location is still a working factory. It was also interesting to follow the different directions the factory has taken over the years in order to adapt to a changing marketplace. And then, the factory shop! With a mix of full-price items and heavily discounted factory seconds, the shop offers irresistible shopping opportunities. And that's how I returned to Chiang Mai with a trunk full of ceramics. The museum is a definite must should you find yourself in Lampang, but it's also well worth a side trip from Chiang Mai just to visit the museum and shop for some great ceramics.
5. Wat Pong Sanuk Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By TGSA - Udon Thani, Thailand
Wonderful temple in Lampang, very quiet on an early morning, stunning reclining Buddha (unfortunately, that part was closed during my visit). Loved to walk around the pagoda up the stairs, impressive.
6. Kad Kong Ta Street Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 87 reviews
Reviewed By blackeaglejim - Chiang Mai, Thailand
Lampang’s weekend market takes place on one of the most attractive streets in the city. It is lined with beautiful old houses and mansions built during the heyday of the teak industry a century ago. Each has a distinctive style, some in unpainted teak, others with whitewashed walls. Ornate lanterns stand along the street, but it is well worth a daytime visit. The Saturday and Sunday market stalls go up before dark along a four-block stretch and spill over into the adjoining lanes. It will be crowded, but not so jammed as the weekend ‘walking streets’ in Chiang Mai, with far fewer tourists. The stalls sell a variety of products, modern and traditional clothing, jewelry and household goods, plus a great array of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. Young artists practice their painting, musicians perform for the public and other activities enliven the scene. The atmosphere is unhurried and friendly, but the market starts closing down around nine p.m.
7. Thai Elephant Conservation Center
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 527 reviews
This 300-acre area consists of an elephant hospital and training school, which help to conserve the Thai elephants and protect them from extinction.
Reviewed By I9145MFjessicab
TECC is the only government-funded elephant conservation center in all of Thailand, with two locations (this one in the Northern province and one in the Southern). They are in charge of serving and treating ALL elephants around the country, and could never turn an elephant down. Although they are funded by the government, they are still losing a whole lot of money each and every year because of all of the expenses that result from all of the hard work and dedication they put into elephant conservation. This is one of the main reasons that they have elephant riding and other tourism practices - along with for health and enrichment practices, exercise, space and deforestation realities, and once again that they need to be able to fund all of the elephants they are committing to caring for. Their guidelines for elephant riding are extremely ethical - the hours elephants work, the comfortability, the weight, the mental state of the elephant. It is all based upon and backed up by scientific research for elephant welfare and these elephants are ultimately healthy and happy. This does not mean you have to ride an elephant when you visit TECC (I did not), but I do NOT believe it is a reason to not support the sole place where elephants get access to health care and treatment. You can vote with your dollar by supporting them through a tour of all their facilities (they even have overnight stays which are lovely)! This experience will be so educational - you visit their elephant hospital, mahout training school, see their scientific approaches, learn about their traditional and herbal medicine practices, watch elephant exercises and understand tourism practices, and just really begin to understand all the work that goes into caring for so many elephants (110 and counting on site, plus unlimited access to all elephants in Thailand) They also have aggressive elephant trainers, the amazing lead is P' Moan, who taught us so much about the misconceptions of "no hook, no chain" sanctuaries as he is one of the mahouts who has to retrain these animals in the traditional and ethical way for safety and for human-elephant coexistence. Also, the "elephant shows" are actually extremely educational and enriching, nothing that harms or exerts the elephant in unethical ways, and the performances they share shows you mahout training exercises and the trainings they practice with autistic kids to improve their social skills (so many good movements behind this center). They also have a reintroduction program to the wild and artificial insemination research, so many exciting initiatives. Go become informed and support these gentle giants and the people who work day in and day out for the real conservation of these animals!!! I highly recommended having P' Dear as your tour guide, she will answer any and all of your critical questions and truly help you to understand the human-elephant complex in Thailand and all of the incredible work that TECC does. It is easy to jump to misinformed conclusions based upon emotion and sensationalism in the media, but the truth of the matter is that TECC is one of the unsung heroes of Thailand - and they are doing everything they possibly can to make sure this countries elephants have the most happy and healthy existence in today's world.
8. Ban Sao Nak
9. Wat Chedi Sao Lang
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 63 reviews
Reviewed By Agkarajit - Chiang Mai, Thailand
On the outskirts of Lampang, this temple is a blend between Thai and Myanmar. Apart from the 20 stupas, there are a few sacred Buddha statues on the temple’s ground including a gold statue. There is also a small museum with collection of artifacts. Currently, the main hall (ubosot) is under renovation.
