Description of the attraction
Wiang Kum Kam is an ancient settlement on the Ping River, which King Mengrai built before the creation of Chiang Mai, 3 km from the future capital of the Lanna Kingdom. According to ancient records, the city was founded in the second half of the 13th century. Wiang Kum Kam was built as the capital after the king's victory over the Mon people of the neighboring Kingdom of Haripunchai.
Unfortunately, the place for the city was not chosen well, it was constantly flooded. Wiang Kum Kam was abandoned by people and no one remembered about it for about 700 years.
In 1984, the Department of Fine Arts discovered the remains of an ancient city near Wat Chang Kam and began archaeological excavations. As it turned out, the city of Wiang Kum Kam, forgotten and lost many centuries ago, was found. Research has shown that ancient settlements have existed in this place since the 8th century.
The best-preserved temples of the old city are Wat Chedi Liem and Wat Chang Kam (aka Wat Kan Tom, in honor of the temple's author).
One of the most important surviving buildings is a chedi (stupa) in the style of the Kingdom of Haripunchai, built in 1286. On all its levels there are niches with Buddha statues. It is an exact replica of the Mahapol chedi at the Chamadevi Temple in Lampun City, which was the capital of the Haripunchai Kingdom.
The most important ancient artifacts were discovered in Wiang Kum Kam: the alphabet of the ancient people of Mon 1207 - 1307; Mon alphabet with changes, turning into Thai 1277 - 1317; alphabet of the Kingdom of Sukhothai before 1397
On the territory of the ancient city there is a museum and information center, where you can get a lot of useful and interesting information about the history of northern Thailand.
