Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Th Pratuma; daylight hours)
This temple is named for the 20 (
sow
in northern Thai)
whitewashed Lanna-style
chedi
on its grounds. But the wát's real treasure is a solid-gold,
15th-century seated Buddha on display in a glassed-in pavilion, built over a square pond.
The Buddha image is said to contain a piece of the Buddha's skull in its head and an an-
cient Pali-inscribed golden palm leaf in its chest; precious stones decorate the image's
hairline and robe. A farmer reportedly found the figure next to the ruins of nearby Wat
Khu Kao in 1983.
Monks stationed at Wat Chedi Sao make and sell herbal medicines; the popular
yah
mòrng
is similar to Tiger Balm.
Wat Chedi Sao is about 6km north of town, via Th Pamaikhet; a round-trip motorcycle
taxi here should cost about 60B.
Phum Lakhon Museum
MUSEUM
(cnr Th Chatchai & Th Thakhrao Noi; 10am-6pm Wed-Sun)
A small but engaging museum
that employs multimedia displays to tell the story of the history, people and culture of
Lampang.
USE YOUR MELON
Diminutive Wat Suchadaram, at Lampang's Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao (
Click here
), is said to be located on the
former melon patch
(dorn đôw)
of Mae (Mother) Suchada, a pious local woman. It is said that during a time of
famine, a monk appeared and was given an unusually shaped melon by Mae Suchada. Upon opening the melon,
the monk found a large green gem inside, and with the help of Mae Suchada, as well as the divine intervention of
Indra, the gem was shaped into a Buddha image.
Villagers suspected the collaboration between the monk and Mae Suchada of being a bit too friendly, and in a
fit of rage, beheaded Suchada. Upon realising their mistake later (the beheading led to yet another famine), a
temple was built in the woman's honour. Today, the emerald Buddha image is held at Wat Phra That Lampang
Luang.
Wat Si Rong Meuang &
Wat Si Chum
( daylight hours)
Wat Si Rong Meuang, on Th Thakhrao Noi, and Wat Si Chum, on
Th Thipawan, were built in the late 19th century by Burmese artisans. The temple build-
ings are constructed in the Burmese 'layered' style, with tin roofs gabled by intricate
woodcarvings.
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
