The Ping River ( Thai : แม่น้ำปิง , RTGS : Maenam Ping , pronounced [mɛ̂ː.náːm pīŋ] ; Northern Thai : น้ำแม่ปิง , pronounced [nâːm mɛ̂ː.pīŋ] ) along with the Nan River , is one of the two main tributaries of the Chao Phraya River . It originates at Doi Thuai in the Daen Lao Range , in Chiang Dao district , Chiang Mai province . After passing Chiang Mai , it flows through the provinces of Lamphun , Tak and Kamphaeng Phet . At the confluence with the Nan at Nakhon Sawan (also named Paknam Pho in Thai), it forms the Chao Phraya River.
19-565: Evidence shows that habitation along the Ping River dates back to 1500 BCE. At that time it controlled trading routes between Yunnan and the Chao Phraya basin. Mengrai , a ruler and conqueror from Xishuangbanna , turned south to create an alternative "silk road" along the Ping River itself and captured Haripunchai in 1281. Following his successful conquest, he created Wiang Kum Kam as his capital before abandoning it following nearly
38-485: A decade of floods, finally moving kilometres north to establish Chiang Mai as the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna in 1296. In the 20th century, the Ping River became a part of Siam . Chinese and foreign investors flooded the area, all in search of lucrative teak and business transactions. Missionaries came and built Chiang Mai’s first church along the eastern bank of the river, an area set aside for foreign residents by
57-492: A population of 14,030. Lamphun lies 665 km (413 mi) north of Bangkok and 19 km (12 mi) south of Chiang Mai . Lamphun was founded by Queen Chama Thevi as the capital of the Haripunchai Kingdom, the last and most northerly Mon kingdom in the area which now forms Thailand . Around 25 km (16 mi) south of Chiang Mai , it was constructed in the shape of a conch shell, following
76-490: A village near Lamphun . King Boek fled by way of the Doi Khun Tan mountain range between Lamphun and Lampang , but he was caught and executed. King Mangrai's troops occupied the city of Lampang, and King Yi Ba was made to flee further south, this time to Phitsanulok. King Mangrai's eldest son grew tired of waiting and tried to seize the throne, but his attempt failed and he was executed. Mangrai's second son, Khun Kham,
95-460: The Khuang River on its east side and divided by moats at the remaining points of the compass. Queen Chama Thevi is remembered in the wat of her name, which is said to be the resting place of her ashes. Near the town's main morning market in the south-west of the city is a statue of the queen at which offerings are still made today by citizens. While still living in the north King Mangrai
114-612: The McKean Rehabilitation Centre today. The Ping Basin is one of the largest drainage basins of the Chao Phraya Watershed , draining 33,896 square kilometres (13,087 sq mi) of land. The greater Ping Basin, i.e. the basin of the entire Ping river system including its tributary the Wang River , drains a total of 44,688 square kilometres (17,254 sq mi). The main dams in
133-568: The Mon kingdom and added Haripunchai to his kingdom. Yi Ba, the last king of Hariphunchai, was forced to flee south to Lampang . After defeating the Hariphunchai kingdom, Mangrai decided to relocate his capital, and in 1294, Wiang Kum Kam was founded on the eastern bank of the Ping River . The site was plagued with floods, and a new site was chosen several kilometres to the northwest at
152-535: The area of Fang in the Upper Kok Valley. In 1287, Mangrai first made peace between King Ngam Muang of Phayao and King Ram Khamhaeng of Sukhothai , who had seduced the former's queen. The three kings then entered into a "Strong pact of friendship". While still living in the area of Fang, he was visited by merchants from the Mon kingdom of Haripunchai (Haripunjaya, now known as Lamphun ). Hearing of
171-405: The ascension of Mangrai's grandson, Kham Fu, in 1328 did the kingdom achieve the stability it had had during the lifetime of its founder. Lamphun Lamphun ( Thai : ลำพูน , pronounced [lām.pʰūːn] ) is a town ( thesaban mueang ) in northern Thailand, capital of Lamphun Province . It covers the whole tambon Nai Mueang of Mueang Lamphun district . As of 2006 it has
190-605: The basin are the Bhumibol Dam and the Doi Tao Dam . The Ping itself originates in Huai Nam Dang National Park and flows through Mae Ping National Park . 19°30′N 98°58′E / 19.500°N 98.967°E / 19.500; 98.967 Mangrai Mangrai ( Northern Thai : ᨾᩢ᩠ᨦᩁᩣ᩠ᨿ ; Thai : มังราย ; 1238–1311) was the 25th king of Ngoenyang (r. 1261–1292) and
209-546: The first independent king of the unified Tai city states in northern Lanna and what is now northern Laos . Seeing the Tai states disunited and in danger, Mangrai quickly expanded his kingdom by conquering Muang Lai, Chiang Kham and Chiang Khong and initiating alliances with other states. In 1262, he founded the city of Chiang Rai as his new capital in the Kok River basin. He also seems to have been operating around this time in
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#1732771811655228-796: The first king of Lanna (r. 1292–1311). He established a new city, Chiang Mai , as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom (1296–1558). King Mangrai was born on 23 October 1238, in Ngoen Yang (present day Chiang Saen ), Thailand, on the Mekong River , a son of the local ruler Lao Meng and his wife Ua Ming Chom Mueang, a princess from the Tai Lue city of Chiang Rung, which is now called Jinghong , in Sipsongpanna ( Xishuangbanna ), China. In 1259, Mangrai succeeded his father to become
247-601: The foot of Doi Suthep , on the site of an older fortified town of the Lua people . Construction of Chiang Mai (lit. "New City") began in 1296. and it has been the capital of the northern provinces more or less ever since. A few years later, Yi Ba's son, King Boek of Lampang , attacked Chiang Mai with a large army. King Mangrai and his second son, Prince Khram, led the defence against the Lampang army. Prince Khram defeated King Boek in personal combat on elephant-back at Khua Mung,
266-557: The people in a state of discontent, Mangrai defeated the Mon Kingdom, and added the city and its wealth to his kingdom, while Yi Ba, the last king of Hariphunchai, was forced to flee south to Lampang . Lamphun was then incorporated into the new Lanna Kingdom. Ai Fa was subsequently appointed king, and King Mangrai began building the fortress Wiang Kum Kam as his new capital. Lamphun is host to one of northern Thailand's most important temples, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai , featured on
285-406: The reverse of the one-satang coin . The phra that in the title indicates the presence of a Buddha relic , in this case one of his hairs, which was interred in the chedi in 897, which is probably the founding date of the wat. The town is surrounded by lush countryside punctuated by rice fields and orchards of the popular fruit, longan , which is celebrated in a festival every August. The town
304-421: The ruling government who occupied the safe, flood-free western banks. Land along the banks, including its islands, were repurposed, such as a small island in the river that was donated to an American missionary Dr. James McKean by Chao Inthawarorot Suriyawong in 1907 to become a leper colony. With no cure for leprosy until the 1980s, lepers found relief in their sanctuary from social criticism, many of whom remain at
323-518: The wealth of that kingdom, he was determined to conquer it, against the advice of his counselors. As it was thought impossible to take the city by force, Mangrai sent a merchant named Ai Fa as a mole to gain the confidence of its King Yi Ba. In time, Ai Fa became the Chief Minister and managed to undermine the King's authority. In 1291, with the people in a state of discontent, Mangrai defeated
342-494: Was then named to succeed Mangrai. King Mangrai died in 1311 in Chiang Mai. According to tradition, he was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm when he was in the city's market. Mangrai's death was followed by period of confusion, with six kings ruling in the next eleven years. This could have been disastrous if the northern powers had not had their own troubles. Sukhothai to the south had also been weakened. Not until
361-464: Was visited by some merchants from the Mon Kingdom, and hearing of the wealth of Lamphun he determined to conquer it, even against the advice of his councillors. As it was deemed impossible to take the city by force, he sent a skillful merchant called Ai Fa to gain the confidence of the King Yi Ba, and in time he became the chief minister and managed to undermine the king's authority. In 1281, with
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