A City Of Horse Carriages

My wife and I decided to take a small holiday just to get away from Bangkok for a few days and we chose to go to
Lampang, a small city in Northern Thailand.

I have heard about Lampang, known by many as Horse Carriage City, where they started shuttling customers around in horse-drawn buggies nearly 85 years ago. I thought it would be a perfect retreat for three or four days. Our friends from Chiang Mai agreed to come down and join us as it is only a short drive from their home. They recommended that we stay at a place called The Riverside, a quaint authentic Northern Thai-style Guesthouse that they said was low-key, inexpensive, right on the river, and had a very reasonably priced quality menu. Well, from that description, who could resist. We arrived at The Riverside Guesthouse to find it the perfect getaway. A fine example of graceful northern architecture in a quiet stretch of central Lampang, this wooden Riverside guest house overlooks the Wang River perhaps 200 meters from the Riverside Restaurant. It's not a 5-star hotel, and that was what we preferred, as it fit the mood & was exactly what we were looking for on this trip.From its external and internal architecture, The Riverside Lampang is a welcome relief from the marble, chrome, brass and pillared lobbies in usual hotels. All rooms are nicely decorated with antique Thai handy crafts, regional carvings and textiles. Our rooms were clean, neat, beautifully appointed and tastefully furnished with antique wood furniture crafted in the region. There are attached bathrooms with good showers, hot water and each room offers either air conditioning or fans. Some rooms have balconies and verandas that face the Wang river and overlook a beautiful tropical garden with several intimate pavilions and patios.

The first morning we woke up to enjoy a great breakfast. The choice included eggs, toast, fresh fruit, and some favorites like; French toast, croissants, etc. After breakfast we rented bicycles from the guesthouse (they also have motorcycles) and started our tour of the town.<br><br>The standard Riverside a la carte menu offers fresh ingredients with a nice choice of well-prepared dishes of both Thai and western food. They offer appetizers such as; grilled spare ribs and fried shrimp cake while the choice of spicy salads includes crispy fish salad and a grilled pork and bergamot leaves salad. Fried rice dishes include chicken with green curry and a delicious pineapple yellow curry fried rice. Moving on to noodles ...the egg noodle with seafood is a favorite. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will enjoy the coconut crown sauteed with sweet basil or the sauteed mushroom with cashew nut while stir-fried mixed fresh vegetables or the sauteed black chinese mushrooms are also on the menu.<br><br>Both, spicy beef sauteed with white pepper or with ginger are delicious but the fried chicken in pandan leaves or the stuffed wings with crab sauce were our choices to accompany our beer for early dinner. There are about 4 soups and of course, one has to try the Northern pork herb sausage. A few of my favorite dishes that I particularly enjoyed during our stay was the glass noodles with prawns, the fresh fish fried with garlic and pepper and the mixed BBQ of pork, beef, and chicken which was eaten as an accompaniment and was shared by 4 persons. There are even a few Italian selections and some pizza choices and we sat on one of the restaurant verandas one evening and enjoyed a Thai pizza of spicy pork and sweet basil.

Lampang province, which dates back more than 1,325 years to the Lanna realm, still continues as a simple and calm town, flourishing with beautiful old traditions. Lampang has a considerable diversity of ancient beautiful Lanna arts, and historical sites combined with a simple life-style of the people. These customs and traditions from the past are maintained along with pure and beautiful natural attractions. Lampang is also known a gateway to other provinces and their tourist attractions.

Lampang has its own unique distinctive character, namely the horse-drawn carriages, the famous ceramics made from the widely acceptable kaolin, typical architecture temples, the Thai Elephant Conservation Center the only place in the world for elephant training. That is as comparably well-known and attractive as the attractions in other provinces

Wat Chedi Sao
The word "sao" means "twenty", "Chedi Sao" means "twenty chedi". The lower parts of the chedis are painted white, while the top is beautifully gilded. There is a saying that if someone can count all twenty chedis, the person is lucky. This revered temple of Lampang province is famous for its historical value as well as ancient relics. The excavation of amulets belonging to the Haripunchai period is evidence that the chedi might have been built more than one thousand years ago. In addition to this, Wat Chedi Sao also houses of Phra San Sae Thong Kham, a hollow, bolted Golden Buddha image made from 95.5 g. of pure gold. Wat Chedi Sao is located in Tambon Tonthongchai, six kilometers from the city.

Wat Srichum
The biggest of all 31 Burmese temple in Thailand. To go to the temple, you begin your journey at Bunyawat Wittayalai School, then turn left at Srichum crossroad and go along for about 100 metres. And the entrance to the temple is on your right. The main feature in the temple compound is the vihara, a half brick and half wood, castle-style building, with a carved steeped wooden roof. Inside of the vihara are murals of the Buddha's history and a Burmese style Buddha Image. In 1992, the vihara was damaged by a fire, and was later renovated over a period of 7 years carefully retaining all of its original character.

Wat Phratat Lampang Luang
Located 18 kilometers from Lampang, along Highway 1 to kilometer 586, take a left turn and pass the Ko Kha District office, and turn right for 2 kilometers. You will see the beauty and the grandeur of Wat Phratat Lampang Luang, which is located on high land. Wat Phratat Lampang Luang houses the image of Emerald Buddha which is the provincial integral to Lampag province. Inside the temple is the Nam Tam Vihara that is the open - sided. There are beautiful and interesting Lanna-style murals. The chedi holds relics of people who are born in the year of the ox. You can see a reflection shadow picture of the chedi that appears in the ubosot.

Wat Phrakaeo Dontao
This Wat is located in Tambon Wiangnuea of Mueang district. The temple was built on the site of the original ancient temple. It was the house of the Emerald Buddha image, which has now been shifted to Wat Phratat Lamoang Luang. The temple compound is dominated by the Phrathat and a Mondapa. The Mondapa is an imitation of the Mondalay Burmese style architecture. The Mondapa's leaves and gables are decorated with perforated wood on all four sides. It houses a stunning Buddha image called "Phra Buakkhem".

Elephant Conservation Center is located about 30 kilometers from Lampang on Lampang-Chiangmai Road. It is the only place for elephant training in the world. There are two elephant shows daily, and the day starts with elephant bathing at 9.00AM. The first show is 10AM, the next show is 11AM. On weekends and festival holidays, a 1PM. show is added. The ticket also includes bananas and sugarcane for feeding the elephants after the performance. The elephant rides are available daily to sight-see in the hills around the center. Tel: 0-5422-9042

Lampang Medicinal Plant's Conservation Center is the place for people who are interested in taking care of their health. It has a spa service with an herbal soak and Thai massage, as well as skin treatment with herbs. There are displays of more than 150 types of herbs to study. This is a popular place for tourists. Located in Khan Mueang Road, Tambon Bo Haeo, Mueang District, Lampang. Tel: 0-5431-3128.

I have to admit that I have stayed at countless small hotels and guesthouses all over Thailand but this definitely was one of the best. The hospitality, accommodations, and the amenities, specifically the Riverside restaurant are not to be easily forgotten and will assure some great memories and lasting friendships. Four days goes awfully fast when one is enjoying such a good time but it is time now for us to go back to Bangkok until our next destination.