Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai
Table of Contents

Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai: introduction
One of the most sacred temples of North Thailand

History of Lamphun
Lamphun is one of Thailand’s oldest cities dating back to at least the 9th century. It was the capital of the Mon Kingdom Hariphunchai. Allegedly the king of Hariphunchai constructed a chedi to house a hair of the Buddha in 897. This chedi was where now the central golden chedi of Wat Hariphunchai is located. King Athitayaraj aka Adityaraja constructed the temple around this chedi in the year 1044, according to information at the temple. In other sources mention the year 1150 as the correct date of the foundation of the temple.

The Chedi Suwanna
The unusual pyramid-shaped, 46 meter high Chedi Suwanna, dates back from the 11th century, according to information at the temple. The design of the chedi is in the Dvaravati- or Mon-style. It is similar to the chedis of Wat Kukuk aka Wat Chamathewi and of Wat Chedi Liam at Wiang Kum Kam, Chiang Mai. The Chedi Suwanna is a brick stepped pyramid with Buddha statues in niches.


The Viharns of Wat Hariphunchai
There are several viharns with Buddha statues at Wat Hariphunchai. The main viharn houses a 15th century Lanna-style Buddha image. A violent storm in 1913 completely destroyed the original viharn, which was probably a wooden building. In the 50th anniversary of the Ayudhya Bank museum, at the back of the temple compound, there are several old photos that show the destruction after this storm. They then constructed the current building.
There are also viharns for the Phra Chao Daeng and Phra Chao Than Jai Buddha images. The viharn Lavo contains statues of the Buddha and of Queen Chamathewi and King Athitayaraj. Lavo refers to the Kingdom of Lavo that was centered on Lopburi. Queen Chamathewi came from Lavo.


The museums of Wat Hariphunchai
On the temple compound there are two museums. The 50th Anniversary of the Ayudhya Bank Museum is a huge building with interesting artifacts, Buddha statues and old pictures. The Phra Muang Kaew museum is much smaller. It is more or less a corridor with exhibits on both sides. There are temple ornaments, statues and ancient scripture boxes in which palm leaf documents were stored. Apart from these museums there are galleries with Buddha images and statues of monks. There is so much to see in Wat Prathat Hariphunchai. We even haven’t mentioned the ancient bell tower and the Singha Gate.


The religious and symbolic center of Lamphun
Wat Hariphunchai is more than the most important Buddhist temple of Lamphun. It is also the location of religious events. Opposite the temple is the local handicraft market and on every Friday late afternoon there is a Walking Street market in front of the temple. Every year in September the Salak Yom Festival takes place at Wat Hariphunchai. I attended this event for the first time in 2012.
What was a two day event has now become a four day event. The dates are based on the lunar calendar and thus differ each year. During this festival, which is a tradition of the Tai Yong people, meters high donation trees dot the temple compound. It is a spectacular sight. We will publish the dates of 2021 as soon as possible on this site.
Wat Hariphunchai features in all our Lamphun tours and is one of the Things to do in Lamphun.

