Wat Sri Chum was built in 1890 during the reign of King Rama V by the wealthy Burmese Jong Taka U Yo, his son-in-law U Mong Yee, and his mother-in-law Pom Boriboon. The temple features a teakwood hall and distinctive Burmese-style roofs. It also houses a golden Mon-Burmese-style chedi containing Buddha relics brought from Myanmar in 1906. Legend has it that before the temple was built by the wealthy Burmese, a small temple with a pavilion and a Bodhi tree stood on this site. Wat Sri Chum was declared a historical monument by the Thai Bureau of Fine Arts in 1981. Unfortunately, the original vihara burned down in 1992 and was rebuilt in the same style, though most of the decorations and statues were lost.

Depending on where you are staying in Lampang, you can reach Wat Sri Chum on foot or by bicycle (some hotels and guesthouses rent bicycles). Otherwise, you will need to hire one of the yellow taxis that operate in the city.

Wat Sri Chum is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Wat Sri Chum? Depending on where you are staying in Lampang, you can reach Wat Sri Chum on foot or by bicycle (some hotels and guesthouses rent bicycles). Otherwise, you will need to hire one of the yellow taxis that are common in the city.