Historical Sign, Lampang City Pillar Shrine—Lampang City, Thailand - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

A Lak Mueang or City Pillar Shrine (as it is known in English) is a Thai public shrine, which is or represents the tutelary diety of each province of the Kingdom. Essentially, the shrine represents "good luck" and acts as a guardian for the good fortune of the region. The shrine consists of a central pillar, which is housed in a enclosing structure. This structure usually reflects the historical and cultural background of the province.

Each Shrine has great religious, social, and political importance, and are held in high regard by the local inhabitants. Before each shrine is a "prayer area", where locals and visitors can come by and make an offering to the shrine, ask for assistance, and ask for good fortune in their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Most Thai provinces have an official Shrine, and some districts within a province have their own, smaller shrine.

There are several different styles of lak mueang, however, they are normally located close to the centre of their city, the provincial capital, usually in or near the governmental precinct. There is a belief that the height of the pillar was the height of the founder of the city, and its diameter a multiple of his fist size. Some shrines contain historical records of the town, region, or the shrine itself.


Lampang is province and city ~600kms north of Bangkok, one of the many provinces in this region of Thailand. Near the city centre is the City Pillar Shrine for the province. As do many, this shrine has an historical plaque, as most do not, this plaque is in both English and Thai.

There are in fact three pillars in this shrine. The first constructed in 1857, the second 1873, and the third 1887. The shrine was also moved several times since the first pillar, due to natural disasters and political changes. The shrine also contains a sizeable number of what are clearly ancient Buddhist artefacts, which no doubt, though I could find no information readily available, are aspects of the history of the province. Entry is unrestricted.

The sign is at the main entrance to the shrine. The Thai language side faces outwards, the English on the reverse. The text here is given "as is", no correction of the "Thailish" (or for that matter, the US spelling used).

Test from sign:
San Chao Pho lak Mueang Nakorn Lampang (Lak Mueang Shrine)
Lak Mueang or the main city pillar of Nakorn Lampang include three wooden
pillars. The first main city pillar was built in around 1857 A.D. in the times of
Chao Worayanrangsiratchatam. At that time. the pillar was buried in the ground
at Wat Pong Sanuk, which was considered the nevel (city's center) temple.
Later, it was moved to be buried at the Khum (residence)
Chao Ratchawong (situated on Ratchawong Road presently has been
removed). The second pillar was built in the times of Chao
Phromathiphongthada in 1873 A.D. At that time, the pillar was buried
next to the Khum Chao Ratchawong, The third pillar built in 1887 A.D.
in the times of Chao Luang Norananchaichaowalit was buried in the part of new
city. Later in 1897 A.D. when the old City Hall of Lamopand was completely
constructed, the three Lak Mueang pillars were placed at this placed
and a pavilioin (mondop) was built to cover them in 1968.

Group that erected the marker: Provincial government, Buddhist hierarchy & City government. Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Praisanne Rd Lampang, Lampang Thailand URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed

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