Location: Lampang is aprovince in the northern part of Thailand located at about 700 KM. from Bangkok or 90 KM. before Chiangmai in the area of 12,533,961 Square Kilometers, comprising 13 districts.

Geography and Climate: Lampang is situated on Mae Wang River basin surrounded by mountain range. Mae Wang River is one of 4 tributaries of the Chao Phraya River which flow from the northern down to central part of Thailand. Due to the location

of the city at the bottom of the mountain range surrounding, it makes the temperature in summer as high as 40 Celsius while in winter it reduces to below 10 Celsius.

History and Culture:Lampang City has existed for more than 13 centuries and can be divided into 4 periods as follows:

-Establishment period – 13th.Buddhist Century – Queen

Chamadhevi of Haripunchai Kingdom had her elder son rule Lamphun City and had her younger son establish a new city

at Lampang (previously named Kelang Nakhon). Lampang

and Lamphun are independent kingdom city states.

-Under Lanna Empire – 23- 24th.Buddhist

Century – King Meng-rai The Great gathered

all city states in this area to combine with Lanna Kingdom that later had been under Burmese colony.

-Present time,Lampang is one of 77 provinces of Thailand such as Chang Mai, Lamphun, Chang Rai, Phare, Nan, Maehongsorn.

As Lampang had been influenced by Burma, there are lots of temples with Burmese

architectural style and having their own way

of religious ritual ceremony as well.

This chapter is our introduction and presentation of an overview picture of Lampang. The other aspects shall be presented in the next issue.