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	---> MORE Destinations: _________________________________ New Perspective of Chiang Rai at Latitude 19 VISITING A BORDER TOWN: Mae Sot – then and now The Poy Sang Long Festival in Mae Hong Son The Samoeng Strawberry Festival Far Out and Cool in Fang District PICTURE PERFECT Mon Jaem Chiang Mai Reflections and a Night Safari Adventure Wat Palad: The Temple below the Temple The Bua Tong Waterfall Park The Cave and Hot Springs of the Mae On Area A DAY TRIP TO DOI INTHANON Two wheels good four wheels…er… The Sino-Thai Dragon Temple of Wat Tha Ton Doi Inthanon - Thailand’s Highest Mountain Kad Mua - an all-you-need market Chiang Dao High! Chiang Mai’s Red Cross and Winter Fair Loy Krathong at Tak A RETREAT TO... Kwan Yin Bodhisattva Hall Living with nature: Galyani Vadhana District Treasures of Myanmar A Journey to Shangri-La Pha Wing Choo – A Lover's Cliff Wiangtakan – The Past Remains Rural Life and Natural Mystery in Chaiprakarn Taking Aim at Chiang Mai's Shooting Gallery Chiang Mai - Maerim - Samoeng Route Hot Springs (and eggs) Ratchaphruek Festival 2009 The 5th Lanna - Japan Festival 2009 Make a Day of it at the New Look Night Safari Mae Sa Snake Farm Marine Lives in a Mountainous Zoo X-Centre Mae Hong Son, Pang Oong and much more along the way... Mae Kampong Village Tiger Kingdom Pai: The Hub of Joy Flower Festival Annual Bo Sang Umbrella Festival at Bo Sang Village Wiang Kum Kam: The Underground Ancient City Loy Kratong: The Town's Joyful Festival Monkey Centre Maerim, Chiang Mai Baankwai Thai Maerim Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden THE ROYAL PALACE ON DOI SUTHEP The Night Safari Ban Saonak Chae Son National Park Lamphun's Wat Chamathevi Doi Tao Lake Mae Sai Bai the Beautiful Wieng Kum Kam Mae Klang Luang Village Doi Pui - Hmong Tribal Village Nan Province Wat Suan Dok Chiang Saen: a city in myth and reality One Night in Chiang Rai and a day across the border A trip full of tour guides Two Days and a Night in the Country The Sumptuous Angkhang Gourmet Tour AWAY FROM IT ALL IN NEARBY MAE WANG Children's Day at the Westernmost Point of Thailand To Lamphun Along the Road of Histories ESCAPING TO PAI A WINTER TRIP ON THE PING RIVER To the Back of Beyond, right on your doorstep Visiting the Shrine of the Elephant-Headed God Visiting Samui Back to Nature at Opkhan National Park Lost in the Chiang Mai Zoo Three Days through the Northern Countryside DOING A NINE-TEMPLE KARMA TRIP - Right Here in Chiang Mai An Early Summer Trip to the Thi Lo Su Falls Nan: Forest, Temples and the Salt of the Earth TREKKING AND TUCKING IN: Wawee Coffee Plantation Mai Long Yee - Lovely Whatever Else You Call It Magnificent Creatures at Wat Changkham Off to See Some Mural Paintings in Lampang The Salawin and the People of Tha Tafang A Hike in the Forest A Journey back in time A Long Night of Luxury in the Chiang Dao Valley Ice-cold in Omkoy A Quick Visit to a Karen Wedding Strawberry Fields Forever A quick ride to Jaesorn National Park A Journey to Wawee A Birding Trip for Newbies Nam Bor Phi Cave A Breath of Sea Air Shopping With a Difference: Kad Luang Airport ELEPHANTS AND ORCHIDS AND THE SNACKS IN BETWEEN Monsoon Miscellany MAE RIM LAGOON AN IMPRESSIVE TRIP - to the Sukantara Resort Visiting Luang Prabang, the Pearl on the Mekong River Phrae: refreshing trip, auspicious visits Up on the Mountain (again) at Khun Wang UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THUNG LUANG SINGAPORE - City of Parks A Short Sight-Seeing Trip to the Monkey Centre GIVE PAI A TRY! You won’t regret it A BUSY DAY’S VISIT TO SANKAMPAENG A Rainy Day Outing to Phrao Monsoon Miscellany TRIPPING AND TASTING ALONG THE HANDICRAFT HIGHWAYS

DESTINATION:
Lamphun's Wat Chamathevi

Apart from being recognized as a neighboring province of Chiang Mai, Lamphun is also a part of the Northern Thai region with its own history. While the Lanna Kingdom was established in Chiang Mai more than 100 years ago, Lamphun's Hariphunchai Kingdom had come into being much earlier, around 767. Although the historical Queen Chamadhevi is thought to have come to the North from Lopburi, bringing the Mon arts and religion of Buddhism with her, local lore recognises the Queen as one of our own. The chronicle histories tell a fascinating story of how she was born miraculously in a giant lotus, and tended in her early years by a reusi or hermit. Only when she reached puberty was she sent down the river to Lopburi, there to marry one of the princes of the ruling dynasty, and returning to the North with twins (but no husband, curiously).But never mind. Her hermit founded the wondrous city of Haripunchai for her, our legends say, and it's no surprise that when courted by a rude barbarian, one Viranka, she was able to get the better of him by a woman's quite remarkable wiles. (Sorry - no room to go into the spicy details here). Having established a highly civilised court and a dynasty that survivied many hundreds of years, she continues to be remembered and respected down to the present day, most especially in her city, now known as Lamphun. The town has an imposing statue of its founder, and one of the most important temples is named after her.

Commonly known as Wat Ku Kut, Wat Chamathevi covers a total area of approximately 12 acres. Dating the temple as it is today is difficult, but local lore assumes that it was built during the reign of her sons, the kings Mahanyot and King Ananyot. It is also believed that the temple houses the queen's relics.

The unique architecture of Wat Chamathevi features two pagodas; the Suwannachangkot and the Rattana Chedi. The Suwannachangkot pagoda is decorated with gold which covers the top. As the upper part was damaged at some stage, the chedi has been called Ku Kut (meaning ‘cut off’) since then. Visiting the temple, you will be impressed by the 60 Buddha images housed around the chedi. The images are in the style of late Dhavaravadi culture, whose art is characteristic of the early Buddhism brought from India.

On the other hand, the Rattana Chedi displays the influence of Burmese art. It also features Buddha images like the Suwannachangkot but even cursory examination makes it clear that they are the products of different artistic styles.

While a visit to Lamphun is not complete without a visit to Wat Chamathevi, there are many other things to see, not the least a well-maintained museum, and the atmosphere of the town is likely too to make its impression - so much calmer and quieter than its bustling seven-hundred year old neighbour to the North.

Getting There? It's a twenty-minute drive from Chiang Mai on a good road, and Wat Chamadhevi is situated next to Lamphun Hospital in San Mahapol Village, Amphur Muang, just 1 km to the west of the town.