Lampang province

Lampang ลำปาง
Province
Seal
Map of Thailand highlighting Lampang Province
Coordinates: 18°41′44.46″N 99°43′32.33″E
Country	Thailand
Capital	Khelang Nakhon
Area
• Total	12,534.0 km2 (4,839.4 sq mi)
• Rank	Ranked 10th
Population  (2014)
• Total	753,013
• Rank	Ranked 30th
• Density	60/km2 (160/sq mi)
• Rank	Ranked 67th
HDI
• HDI (2009)	0.748 (medium) (30th)
Time zone	UTC+7 (ICT)
Area code	054
ISO 3166 code	TH-52
Vehicle registration	ลำปาง

Lampang (Thai: ลำปาง, pronounced [lām.pāːŋ]) is one of the northern provinces (changwat) of Thailand.

Geography

Lampang is in the broad river valley of the Wang River. It has mountain chains. The highest mountain is Doi Luang. It stands at 1,697-metre (5,568 ft) high.

Economy

Rice harvest in Wang Nuea District with the mountains of the Phi Pan Nam Range in the distance

Lampang is famous for the production of ceramic goods and its mining operations. A great deal of ball clay, china stone, and lignite are extracted from the surrounding mountains.

There are more than 200 ceramic factories in and around Mueang Lampang district. Most of ceramic factories are small to medium-sized operations mainly producing novelties (plant pots, dolls), tablewares, and building materials (tiles, railings).

The largest coal fired power plant (as of 2015) in Southeast Asia is in Mae Mo district near the lignite mining area. The plant uses the abundant lignite as fuel. The largest concrete plant is also north of Mueang Lampang. This is also powered by lignite. Limestone is another abundant rock mined in Lampang. The agricultural products that this province is famous for are rice and pineapples.

History

Singha lanna

Wang River in Lampang City

In the 11th century, the Khmer Empire occupied the Lampang area. King Mengrai of Lanna took control of the region and made it part of his kingdom in 1292. Lampang became a province of Thailand in 1892.

Phra That Lampang Luang, Amphoe Ko Kha

Tourism

Burmese-style Wat Srichum

Local products

Hand-made cotton (ผ้าทอมือ) comes in different patterns designed by different villages.

Wood-carving (ไม้แกะสลัก) is a major industry at Tambon Na Khrua of Mae Tha district

Terra-cotta or ceramics (เซรามิก) produced in Lampang are of the best quality in Thailand.

Sa Paper (กระดาษสา) is a fine product made from a type of soft wood. The process is purely traditional and the major producing center is the village of Ban Nam Thong.

Culture

elephant train

Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat Phrachomklao Rachanusorn, sometimes called Floating temples of Lampang

Festivals

Luang Wiang Lakhon Fair (งานหลวงเวียงละคอน) features Lampang's own historical backgrounds and long-established customs and traditions.i

Khantok Chang Fair (งานขันโตกช้าง หรือ สะโตกช้าง) hosts an elephant fiar

Lampang Airport

Lampang Trains and Horse Carriages Day (งานวันรถไฟรถม้าลำปาง) is organized at the Nakhon Lampang Railway Station at the beginning of April to commemorate the first royal train that arrived to the station 1 April 1916. In the event, there will be an exhibition and Kat Mua market, where the participants will dress up in the traditional style of costume of some 80 years ago, when the horse carriage was first used in Lampang. The carriage service is also provided in the event.

Salung Luang Procession and Songkran Festival (งานแห่สลุงหลวงและสงกรานต์) is a festival held from 12–14 April every year. On 12 April, water bowls will be decorated". On 13–14 April every year, there will be, sand pagoda making, ceremony of pouring water onto the elderly, splashing of water, fairs and various forms of entertainment.

Other websites

• Lampang travel guide from Wikivoyage

• Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand Archived 2005-12-10 at the Wayback Machine
• Golden Jubilee Network province guide Archived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine
• Lampang provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp