Lamphun is in the Ping River valley. It is surrounded by mountain chains, with the Thanon Thong Chai Range in the west and the Khun Tan Range in the east of the province. It is some 670 kilometres from Bangkok and 26 kilometres from Chiang Mai. Lamphun is regarded as the smallest province of northern region of Thailand.
History
Under its old name of Haripunchai, Lamphun was the northernmost city of the Mon kingdom of the Dvaravati period, and also the last to fall to the Thai. In the late-12th century it came under siege from the Khmer, but did not fall. However, in 1281 King Mengrai of Lan Na finally seized the city, and made it part of his kingdom. After Burmese expansion in the 16th century, Lamphun was under Burmese rule for two centuries. In the 18th century, with the rise of Thonburi and Bangkok against Burmese rule, local leaders from Lampang agreed to be their allies. Lamphun was finally freed from the Burmese and ruled by relatives of Lampang's leader, gaining vassal status from Bangkok. Eventually, after the administrative reform of Bangkok government in the late-19th century, Lamphun became part, as a province, of Siam.
Symbols
The provincial seal shows the temple Wat Phra That Haripunchai, which was already the main temple of the city Lamphun during Mon times. The gold-covered chedi is said to contain a relic of Buddha. The provincial flower is the Flame of the Forest, and the provincial tree is the Rain Tree.
Kaeng khae, a spicy curry consisting mainly of vegetables with chicken, frog, fish or snails.
Kuaitiao lamyai, stewed pork noodles soup with dried longan, originated in Lamphun.
Administrative divisions
Provincial government
The province is divided into eight districts. These are further divided into 51 subdistricts and 551 villages. For national elections the province is divided into three constituencies. Constituency 1 covers the Mueang District except Tambon Makhuea Chae; Constituency 2 the districts Pa Sang, Mae Tha, and Tambon Makhuea Chae of Mueang District; and Constituency 3 the districts Ban Hong, Thung Hua Chang, and Li.
Local government
As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Lamphun Provincial Administration Organisation and 40 municipal areas in the province. Lamphun has town status. Further 39 subdistrict municipalities. The non-municipal areas are administered by 17 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO.
