Sights in Lampang Province
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FAE’s Elephant Hospital
Near the TECC but not affiliated with, is the FAE’s Elephant Hospital, which claims to be the first of its kind in the world. Although visitors are appreciated and provided for, keep in mind that this is a functioning medical facility, and there are no guided tours and certainly no elephant art. Donations are greatly appreciated. In June 2008 the centre reached another first when it successfully provided an elephant with a prosthetic leg.
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Wat Chedi Sao
Located about 6km north of town, via Th Pamaikhet, this temple is named for the sow (northern Thai for 20) 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 image is said to contain a piece of the Buddha's skull in its head and an ancient 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.
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Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao
From 1436 to 1468, this wát was among four in northern Thailand to previously house the Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew). The main chedi shows Hariphunchai influence, while the adjacent mon·dòp (the small square, spired building in a wát) was built in 1909. The mon·dòp, decorated with glass mosaic in typical Burmese style, contains a Mandalay-style Buddha image. A display of Lanna artefacts (mostly religious paraphernalia and woodwork) can be viewed in the wát's Lanna Museum.
Adjacent to the temple complex, pretty Wat Suchadaram dates back to 1809 and is named after Mae Suchada, the central figure in a local legend.
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Chae Son National Park
In Amphoe Meuang Pan, about halfway between Wang Neua and Lampang, is the 593-sq-km Chae Son National Park. Elevations in the park reach above 2000m. Jae Sawn has six drops, each with its own pool; close to the falls are nine hot springs. Small huts house circular baths, recessed into the floor and lined with clay tiles, that are continuously filled with water direct from the spring. For 20B you can take a 20-minute soak, preceded and followed by an invigorating cold-water shower.
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Baan Sao Nak
In the old Wiang Neua (North City) section of town, Baan Sao Nak was built in 1895 in the traditional Lanna style. A huge teak house supported by 116 square teak pillars, it was once owned by a local kun·yĭng (a title equivalent to 'Lady' in England); it now serves as a local museum. The entire house is furnished with Burmese and Thai antiques, but structure itself and its manicured garden are particularly magnificent.
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Thai Elephant Conservation Center
Located in Amphoe Hang Chat, 33km from Lampang, this unique facility promotes the role of the Asian elephant in eco-tourism, and also provides medical treatment and care for sick elephants from all over Thailand.
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Doi Luang National Park
The area of Mien hill-tribe village became part of the 1172-sq-km Doi Luang National Park in 1990; animals protected by the park include serows, barking deer, pangolins and pig-tailed macaques.
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Wat Si Rong Meuang & Wat Si Chum
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 buildings are constructed in the Burmese 'layered' style, with tin roofs gabled by intricate woodcarvings.
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Wat Pongsanuk Tai
Despite having lost much of its character in a recent renovation, the mon·dòp at Wat Pongsanuk is still one of the few remaining local examples of original Lanna-style temple architecture, which emphasised open-sided wooden buildings. To get an idea of what it was like previously, look at the carved wooden gateway at the entrance to the north stairway.
There are a couple of informal museums on the temple grounds showing local artefacts, but with little English explanation.
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