Wiang Kum Kam

The ancient town settlement of Wiang Kum Kam is located 5 km south of the provincial capital on route 106, the Chiang Mai - Lamphun highway, beside the Ping River.

Wiang Kum Kam is perhaps the earliest of all known settlements in the Chiang Mai area. However, it is often mistakenly regarded as having been founded by King Mengrai circ. 1290. Although he did use it as his capital for a short time, it is more likely to have been established far earlier in the 12th or possibly 11th century by the Mon and used as a satellite town for their Hariphunchai Kingdom.

The area was renowned for heavy flooding and this forced King Mengrai to eventually move his capital. During the Burmese periods of occupation and rule, the Ping River completely changed directions and the whole site was buried deep in mud. By the early 18th century, the continual flooding caused the area to be completely abandoned.

Today, now largely deserted and far from the present-day course of the river, it is a beautifully rustic and tranquil place to explore and in 1980 the area was turned into a historical park. To date, over 1,300 inscribed stone slabs, bells, bricks and chedi have been excavated at the site. The translation work of the inscriptions is being carried out by Chiang Mai University. The most striking monument is Wat Chedi Liam where most of the historical artifacts were found. It was built in about 1286 and is a square stepped chedi with Buddha images set into niches. Several other chedi, including those found at Wat Chang Kam, Wat Noi and Wat Kum Kam plus other remains of foundations dot the area.

There is a small museum in the park that gives general information about the area and describes the archaeological work completed along with some displays of some of the historical finds.

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