Shan roofs
Fretworked timber tiers.
Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Angvong — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0
A Burmese-style teak temple in Lampang, built around 1900 to 1905 with funds from the Burmese timber merchants and workers whose trade flourished in the town. It stands out from afar for its many stacked timber roofs, tier upon tier with fretworked edges, in the style of the Shan temples of Burma. Inside is one astonishing hall: tall wooden pillars clad in red and gold, a ceiling and walls decorated with coloured glass mosaic and tiny mirrors, and Burmese-style Buddha images with features unlike Thai ones. The soft light inside makes the gold glow quietly. Entry is free and donations are welcome. Modest dress is expected: shoulders and knees covered, and shoes off inside the halls. The temple is small, so half an hour is enough. It is in active use, so keep your voice down. Pair it with Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao and a horse-carriage ride round town, all close by.
Fretworked timber tiers.
Red and gold inside.
Who built it a century ago.
Tha Krao Noi Road, west of central Lampang
Its builders were Burmese timber merchants and workers who settled in Lampang during the teak boom.