Lamphun - Cham Thewi Monument
Photo Gallery of Cham Thewi Monument, the queen of Haripunchai, in Lamphun, Northern Thailand.
Lamphun is one of the oldest cities in Thailand and is well-known as the first royal city of Northern Thailand. It was called "Haripunchai" and flourished for a long time. The town is very peaceful, situated along Kuang River (tributary of Ping River), about 30 kilometers and about 30 minutes by car from Chiang Mai, the major city in northern part.Historically speaking, this area was called ”Samantra prathet" long before it got to be called Lamphun.
After the fall of Samantraprathet, the city was recovered as "Hariphunchai Nakorn" around 661 A.D. In 663, Princess Cham Thewi (or Chama Thewi or ChamDevi; daughter of the King Of Lawo or Lawapur) was invited to become a queen in 663 A.D. , then the Haripunchai kingdom started. She brought civilization from Dvaravati (the kingdom in central Thailand around the 6th to the 13th centuries) to Northern Thailand for the first time.
She gathered various native tribes and ruled them under her Ten Royal Virtues, then proclaimed Buddhism by establishing temples throughout the land and extended the civilization to other river basins such as Wang river and Ping river. While she was in the order of the ten-precept nun, she performed countless good deeds and that's why she was called "the Beloved Queen" of Lanna people.
You'll see the statue of the first ruler, Queen Chama Thewi in the town. A lot of people visit there to pray. I came here twice. :D When you visit Lamphun, why don't you visit her and pray ?
ChamThewi - In the park |
The statue of the first ruler, Queen Chama Thewi stands in the park of
the town.
This is the park. The walls look like they are old with a long time and are telling the history. |
|
|
|
| Elephants on the wall Elephants on the wall to protect this park. |
From behind A shot from behind. So cute ! :D They watch over the city. |
Other object Lamp or pot ? |
|
|
| The statue in the back The statue of the Queen Cham Thewi can be seen in the back of the park. There is a wall like a city or castle wall behind. |
ChamThewi - The Queen Chama Thewi |
The first ruler of Lamphun or Haripunchai, Queen Cham Thewi, standing in
the back of the park.
Tender stairs in front and elephants protecting the area stand on the both
sides. There is a wall behind. |
|
|
| The Queen Cham Thewi The dignified and graceful queen's image with a sword (I guess) on the left hand and her right hand putting out (to express friendship ?). |
|
|
|
| In front of the image Offerings and a board showing prayers. |
Under the image Although in Thai, it shows the history of the queen. |
On both sides Sacred white elephants protect her. |
|
|
| Close-ups Is she wearing a crown ? ChamThewi, she was called "the Beloved Queen" of Lanna people. She looks dignified and graceful. |
|
ChamThewi - The wall behind the queen |
There is a big and wide wall behind the queen's statue.
Is the wall made just to decorate background of the statue or to protect
behind the queen ? |
|
|
|
| Very elaborative decoration The middle decoration of the wall. Very elaborative with a lot of Buddha images. |
||
ChamThewi - Others |
| Let's check around the park. |
|
|
|
| A stone board of the queen. | A lot of doves in the park. | Decoration with a lot of lantern shaped ornaments that you'll see often in northern Thailand. |
|
|
| A tour bus in Lamphun. Where are they going ? :D | Outside of the park, facing a big street. Spacious. |
Home
General Info
Photos (Thailand)
Column
Links