Lamphun is a town (
thesaban mueang) in northern
Thailand, capital of
Lamphun Province. It covers the whole
tambon Nai Mueang of
Mueang Lamphun district. As of 2006 it has a population of 14,030.
History
A square chedi in Lamphun
The town was founded in the 9th century (CE) by Queen Chama Thevi as the capital of the
Haripunchai kingdom, the last
Mon kingdom in the area which now forms Thailand.
Situated 26 km south of
Chiang Mai, this generally quiet town is said to be constructed in the shape of a
conch shell, following the Khuang River on its east side and divided by moats at the remaining points of the compass.
Lamphun is host to one of the north's most important
wats (temples), Wat Phra That Haripunchai. The "Phra That" in the title indicates the presence of a
Buddha relic, in this case one of His hairs, which was interred in a
chedi in 897 and is probably the founding date of the Wat. Queen Chama Thevi is remembered in the Wat of her name, which is said to be the resting place of her ashes. Near the town's main morning market in the southwest of the city is a statue of the Queen at which offerings are still made today by citizens. The
Haripunchai kingdom Chama Thevi founded eventually fell under the control of the
Khmers of
Angkor in modern day
Cambodia, probably at the end of the 10th century. After the fall of Angkor to Thai forces, King
Mengrai, founder of
Chiang Mai finally seized Lamphun in 1281 and made it part of the
Lanna Kingdom. The town is surrounded by lush countryside punctuated by rice fields and orchards of the popular fruit,
longan, which is celebrated in a festival every August.
