Lampang Province

Lampang ( th, ลำปาง, ; Northern Thai: ) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (''changwat''), lies in upper northern Thailand. The old name of Lampang was ''Khelang Nakhon''.

Geography

Lampang is in the broad river valley of the Wang River, surrounded by mountains. In Mae Mo district lignite is found and mined in open pits. To the north of the province is the high Doi Luang.

Within the province are Chae Son and Doi Khun Tan National Parks in the Khun Tan Range, as well as Tham Pha Thai, Doi Luang National Park, and the Huai Tak Teak Biosphere Reserve in the Phi Pan Nam Range. The total forest area is or 70 percent of provincial area.

National parks

There are a total of eight national parks, six ofwhich are in region 13 (Lampang branch), Doi Luang in region 15 (Chiang Mai), and Wiang Kosai in region 13 (Phrae) of Thailand's protected areas.
* Tham Pha Tai National Park,

* Doi Luang National Park,

* Mae Wa National Park,
* Wiang Kosai national Park,
* Doi Chong National Park,
* Chae Son National Park, ,
* Doi Khun Tan National Park, ,
* Khelang Banphot National Park, ,

Wildlife sanctuaries

There are two wildlife sanctuaries, Doi Pha Muang in region 13 (Lampang branch) and Tham Chao Ram in region 14 (Tak) of Thailand's protected areas.
* Doi Pha Muang Wildlife Sanctuary,
* Tham Chao Ram Wildlife Sanctuary,

History

Lampang is an ancient city of more than 1,300 years. It is mentioned in various legends in 11 different names; namely Kukkudnakhon, Lampakappanakhon, Srinakhonchai, Nakhon Vieng Kok Wua, Vieng Din, Kelang Nakhon, Nakhon Lampang Kam Kelang, Arlampang, Muang Lakorn, and Muang Nakhon Lampang.

Lampang was built in 680. According in Yonok historical record, a hermit named Suphrom Ruesi built a town for Prince Anantayot, son of Queen Jamadevi of Haripunchai’s Lamphun. The town was first named Kelang Nakhon and then changed into Nakhon Lampang.

In Yonok Chiang Saen period, Nakhon Lampang was governed by Khmer. It was later colonized by Burma and Chiang Mai in the period of King Thonburi about 250 years ago. Later, Lord Thipchang of Lampang has fought for Lamapng independence and established himself as Phraya Sulavalue Chaisongkram, King of Lampang in 1732.

In 1764 Prince Kaewfa, son of Lord Thipchang governed Lampang and was the first ancestor of Na Lampang, Na Lamphun and Na Chiang Mai family. Prince Boonyawat Vongmanit was the last ruler of Lampang.

Lampang was announced as a province in Thailand in 1892 in the reign of King Rama V.

Transport

The city is an important highway hub, with a four lane highway link to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, as well as a major highway to Phrae and the eastern Lanna provinces. Lampang is roughly a 1.5 hour bus ride to Chiang Mai. Lampang is a stop for the Chiang Mai-bound train, approximately 10 hours from Bangkok.

Lampang Airport is served by Bangkok Airways (three flights daily to Suvarnabhumi Airport) and Nok air (four flights daily to Don Mueang) (Oct 2015).

Health

The main hospital of Lampang is Lampang Hospital, operated by the Ministry of Public Health.

Tourism

Lampang province is not visited by many tourists, only about 900,000 per year, most of them passing through. In early 2019, the provincial governor rolled out a program called "Lampang: Dream Destination" to raise the number of visitors to two million within two years.

Economy

Lampang is known for the production of ceramic goods and its mining operations. A great deal of ball clay, china stone

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