Lampang province

Lampang (Thai: ลำปาง, pronounced [lām.pāːŋ]; Northern Thai: ᩃᩣᩴᨻᩣ᩠ᨦ) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat), situated in upper northern Thailand. The old name of Lampang was Khelang Nakhon.

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 1,697-metre (5,568 ft) 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 8,747 km² (3,377 sq mi) or 70 percent of provincial area.

There are nine national parks, of which six are in region 13 (Lampang branch), Doi Luang in region 15 (Chiang Rai), Wiang Kosai in region 13 (Phrae) and Si Satchanalai in region 14 (Tak), they are the protected areas in Lampang province. (Visitors in fiscal year 2024)

There are two wildlife sanctuaries, Doi Pha Muang in region 13 (Lampang branch) and Tham Chao Ram in region 14 (Tak), they are the protected areas in Lampang province.

Starting in the 7th century Lampang was part of the Dvaravati period Hariphunchai Kingdom of the Mon. But it was King Mengrai of Lanna who incorporated the complete Haripunchai Kingdom into his kingdom in 1292. Lampang or Nakhon Lampang or Lakhon, was under Burmese rule after the fall of Lanna Kingdom from the 16th century to 18th century. During the uprising against Burmese rule by Siam's new kings in the late-18th century, a local Lampang leader became Siam's ally. After the victory, the leader, Kawila, was named the ruler of Chiang Mai, the former center of Lanna, while his relative ruled Lampang. The city continues to be one of the important economic and political centers in the north. Lampang became a province of Thailand in 1892.

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).