Lamphun is close to Chiang Mai and Lampang in Northern Thailand. Lamphun is on the Ping river which is an ancient trading route the flowers into Chiang Mai and further south into the country. Lamphun is a picturesque area with vast flower laden sprawling valleys which are technically the foothills to the Himalayas since they share the same tectonic plate. Lamphun is just 15 miles from Chiang Mai.
In the late 11,00's this part of the Mon kingdom fell to the Lannas until it was taken over by the Burmese for two hundred years. Thailand was finally formed by allegiance of many provincial leaders, the Burmese were finally expelled from Thailand altogether.Districts
* Mueang Lamphun
* Mae Tha
* Ban Hong
* Li
* Thung Hua Chang
* Pa Sang
* Ban Thi
* Wiang Nong Long
Festivals
The most notable festival to see in Florist Lamphun is the Longan Fair where floats decorated with flowers are used to celebrate the harvest of the Longan fruit (which is similar to a lychee). Women partake in traditional dances and men will place flower garlands around their neck in appreciation of their dance.
Where to Visit
There are many temples in Lamphun which are worth a visit. The most notable temple is the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai which was built in the 15th century by The King of Chiang Mai. Lamphun is famous for its wood carvings and trinkets featuring the cultural festivities of the ancient Lanna Kingdom of Chiang Mai.
To get to Lamphun from Bangkok you can travel on overnight train to Chiang Mai and then take a coach. Alternatively you can travel to Chiang Rai which is much closer but there are poor bus connections to Lamphun. Busses are usually local busses without air-conditioning and stop too frequently.
