Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is one of the most spectacular wats in Thailand. Set atop a small hill around 20km from Lampang town, it dates back to 1486 and is believed to be one of the oldest wooden buildings in Thailand. The central viharn is open-sided and held up by two rows of massive teak pillars. The murals within remain in reasonably good nick and tell stories from court life.The wat is home to two important Buddha images, Phra Jao Lan Tang, which was cast in 1563 and is enclosed in a golden mondop towards the rear of the viharn and Phra Jao Tan Jai, which sits behind it. Also behind the viharn is a very big chedi often wrapped in yellow sashes.
The entire complex is surrounded by a high brick wall and the main entrance is via a large staircase, the arch of which is topped by beautiful and intricately carved lintels depicting intertwined dragon heads dating to the 15th century. This wat is a big hit with tour buses so it can go from being extremely crowded to completely empty throughout the day. Early morning and late afternoon are generally good times to visit.