There’s a small charge to visit Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in the heart of Lamphun, a town just south of Chiang Mai that was the capital of the medieval Hariphunchai kingdom. It’s so close to Chiang Mai that most travelers visit on a day or half-day trip, generally pairing it with Lampang’s Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of Thailand’s oldest wooden structures that’s a 1-hour drive away. Guided tours make transport easier and can save you plenty of research time.
Wat Phra That Hariphunchai is a great choice for photographers, history buffs, architecture fans, and anyone interested in Thai Buddhism.
Respectful dress is important when visiting Thai temples. Ensure that your shoulders and upper legs are covered, and wear shoes you can easily slip on and off when entering and leaving temple buildings.
The temple area is flat and paved with ramp access to most buildings, making it suitable for travelers who rely on wheelchairs.
Wat Phra That Hariphunchai sits in the heart of Lamphun, about a 20-mile (30-kilometer) drive south of downtown Chiang Mai. Regular trains run from Chiang Mai to Lamphun station, from where you can pick up a motorbike taxi or walk 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) to the temple.
The temple is open from 6am to 6pm but closed on public holidays. It’s a popular destination with domestic travelers, so try to avoid visiting at weekends. A week-long ceremony around the full moon in the sixth lunar month (May) celebrates the ritual cleansing of the Buddha relics: The temple’s collection includes some of his hair.
For a relatively small town, Lamphun offers plenty to do. Just across from Wat Phra That Hariphunchai is a market specializing in local products, while the Hariphunchai National Museum, a couple of blocks away, explores the region’s rich history. The beautiful temple of Wat Chamthewi (Wat Ku Kut), a little over 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) from Wat Phra That Hariphunchai is dedicated to Hariphunchai’s first ruler, the 7th-century warrior queen Chamadevi.