Jamdevi Temple or Wat Chamthewi
Lamphun, actually Thais call Lam Poon, is a small province 37 km south from Chiang Mai. It is the oldest city in northern Thailand. The old name was Haripunchai. This prosperous city was finally seized by King Mung Rai of Chiang Rai in 1281 and made it part of his Lanna Kingdom. In the 16th century the invasion of Burmese, Lamphun had been ruled by Burmese for two centuries. In the 18th century, with the rise of Thonburi and Bangkok, Lampang local commanders agreed to be their allies.
Lamphun was finally independent from the Burmese and ruled by Nan Tipchang or King Gawila of Chiang Mai who received vassal status from Bangkok. Lamphun is famous for its historical sites, many old temples, the land of cotton products and the biggest areas of Longgan fruit in Thailand.
Jamdevi Temple , commonly referred to a Wat Ku Kut, is located on the Lamphun-San Pa Tong Road and built in 1298 B.E. in the Lawo (Lopburi) style. The Chedi is a square structure similar to Buddhagaya in India. Around the Chedi are levels of arches holding a total of 60 Buddha statues. Ashes of the queen are enshrined within the Chedi.
The largest of the two is a very unusual square ‘stepped pyramid’ shaped pagoda. It is the oldest surviving example of this type, from the Dvaravati period which ruled much of what is now Thailand from the sixth to eleventh centuries.
The chedi was built by King Athitayarat of the Haripunchai Kingdom to commemorate his victory over the Khmer halfway the 12th century. The current structure is from 1218, when it was rebuilt by King Saphsit after an earthquake damaged the original.
Each tier of the chedi is lined with standing Buddha images, 60 in all. Each of the images is in a different pose and framed by an elaborate arch. The pagoda is supposed to contain the ashes of Queen Chama Devi.
Adjacent to the large pagoda is the main prayer hall with its large Buddha image sitting on a brightly decorated altar. Set against the line of columns on one side of the hall are three smaller Buddha images cast in colored glass. You’ll note that each of the images is costumed differently, representing the three seasons observed in Thailand.
Similar chedis can be found at the Wat Phaya Wat in Nan, the Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai Historical Park, the Wat Phra That Haripunchai in Lamphun, and the Wat Chedi Liam in Chiang Mai.
How to get to the Jamdevi Temple or Wat Ku Kut
Wat Jamdevi is found on Chamadevi road (road 1015) a little over one kilometer West of Lamphun town center, next to Lamphun Hospital. To get there, hire a samlor (trishaw) or Tuk Tuk from the town center for about 40 Baht one way. For the way back into town, get a samlor at the hospital. Situated so close to Chiang Mai, Lamphun doesn’t have much in the way of accommodation for the traveller. We provide private tours from Chiang Mai to Lamphun and Lampang, you can visit the most important temple in Lamphun and Lampang, the first elephant hospital in the world and on the way back drive to the old and beautiful road which have Dipterocapus alatus Roxb more than 10 kilometes.
Entrance fee & opening hours
The Jamdevi Temple opens daily during daylight hours. Admission is free.
Note :Â Wheelchair user is accessible
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Jamdevi Temple Map
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