Northern Thailand - Thailand - page 593

The wí·hăhn to the north of the chedi, Wihan Nam Taem , was built in the early 16th cen-
tury and, amazingly, still contains traces of the original murals, making them among the
oldest in the country.
Wihan Phra Phut , which is south of the main chedi, dates back to the 13th century and is
the oldest structure in the compound.
Unfortunately, only men are allowed to see a camera obscura image of the wí·hăhn and
chedi in the Haw Phra Phutthabaht , a small white building behind the chedi . The image is
projected (upside down) onto a white cloth, and clearly depicts the colours of the struc-
tures outside.
The lintel over the entrance to the compound features an impressive dragon relief, once
common in northern Thai temples but rarely seen today. This gate supposedly dates to the
15th century.
In the arboretum outside the southern gate of the wát, there are now three museums . One
displays mostly festival paraphernalia and some Buddha figures. Another, called 'House
of the Emerald Buddha', contains a miscellany of coins, banknotes, Buddha figures, silver
betel-nut cases, lacquerware and other ethnographic artefacts, along with three small
heavily gold-leafed Buddhas placed on an altar behind an enormous repoussé silver bowl.
The third, a small museum, features shelves of Buddha figures, lacquered boxes,
manuscripts and ceramics, all well labelled in Thai and English.
Getting There & Away
Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is 18km southwest of Lampang in Ko Kha. To get there
by public transport from Lampang, flag a blue eastbound sŏrng·tăa·ou (20B) on Th
Boonyawat. From the Ko Kha sŏrng·tăa·ou stop, it's a 3km chartered motorcycle taxi ride
to the temple (40B). Alternatively, you can charter a sŏrng·tăa·ou from Lampang's bus
station for around 350B, or taxis will take you there and back for 500B.
If you're driving or cycling from Lampang, head south on Th Phahonyothin (Asia 1
Hwy) and take the Ko Kha exit, then follow the road over a bridge and bear right. Follow
the signs and continue for 3km over another bridge until you see the temple on the left.