Hostels in Lamphun, Thailand

Forever living in the shadows of its larger, more famous, and heavily touristed big brother, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Thailand, at only twenty-six kilometers south of Chiang Mai, is worth a day or two of anyone's time, particularly if you are interested in the history of this region.

Lamphun claims to be the oldest continuously inhabited town in Thailand, and has a history dating back to the late eighth or early ninth century and is a former royal city, founded by Queen Chama Thevi in the seventh century.

Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in Lamphun is one of Thailand's greatest temples. It was founded around the turn of the tenth century, and rebuilt in the mid-fifteenth century. On either side of the viharn (to the east of the main chedi) stands a dark red bell tower, containing what’s claimed to be the world’s largest bronze gong, and a weather-beaten library on a raised base. An open pavilion at the southwest corner of the chedi shelters a stone indented with four overlapping footprints, believed to confirm an ancient legend that the Buddha once passed this way. Next to the pavilion is a small museum, which houses some beautiful Buddha images.

Wat Chama Thevi (also known as Wat Kukut), where the main brick chedi, Suwan Chang Kot, which was built around the mid-twelfth century and repaired in the thirteenth century, is the only complete example of Haripunjaya architecture. Queen Chama Thevi is supposed to have chosen the site by ordering an archer to

fire an arrow from the city’s western gate -- to retrace his epic shot, follow the road along the National Museum’s southern wall to the west gate at the city moat, and keep going for nearly a kilometer along Thanon Chama Thevi. Chedi Suwan Chang Kot is five-tiered and rectangular, inset with niches sheltering beautiful Buddha images in stucco, typical of the Haripunjaya style.

You won't find many backpacker hostels in Lamphun, Thailand, as the city does make a very easy day trip by public transport from Chiang Mai, where there is an abundance of budget hostels. Your Lamphun, Thailand hostel is centrally located, and makes for a much more leisurely visit of this historic city by staying overnight.