Wat Ku Pa Lan

Wat Ku Pa Lan is located at 196, Moo 8, Ban Si Don Chai, Ban Thi Subdistrict, Ban Thi District, Lamphun Province, with the postal code 51180. It is a Dhammayutika monastery with an area of 4 rai, 3 ngan, and 40 square wah. The monastery was officially established in 1982 and received its royal consecration boundary in 1990. The abbot of Wat Ku Pa Lan is Phra Kru Praphat Worakan (Thewaro).

 

Wat Ku Pa Lan is the oldest historical site in Ban Thi District and has been registered as a historical site by the Fine Arts Department. After King Mangrai conquered the Hariphunchai Kingdom, he delegated the rule of Hariphunchai to Ai Fa, who became "Khun Fa".

 

King Mangrai then built a new city northeast of Hariphunchai, known as Thap Than Sae (or Thap Ban Chae Phon). After the conquest, archaeologists and scholars often skip this city's establishment and move directly to discussing Wiang Kum Kam and eventually Chiang Mai.

 

The first city King Mangrai built after the conquest was located in the lowland plains near Doi Wiang, with the Mae Kuang River flowing through it. This area, now in Ban Thi District, Lamphun Province, is home to early Lanna art scattered across the region. Notable examples include "Ku Rueang," also called "Ku Heuang," and "Ku Pa Lan."

 

King Mangrai resided in this new city briefly before a severe flood forced relocation. According to the Chiang Mai Chronicles, "After 2 years, in the Year of the Tiger (CS 645), King Mangrai entrusted the rule of Hariphunchai to Khun Fa and then moved to build another city, claiming to create a grand and spacious settlement. King Mangrai had the river excavated to create a passage for people. The river was later named Mae Jaew. After residing there for 3 years, during the monsoon, floods inundated the city. Elephants, horses, cattle, and buffalo could no longer stay there".

 

Subsequently, King Mangrai moved to build Wiang Kum Kam in 1286 (CS 648) before establishing a permanent settlement at the base of Doi Suthep, the present-day Chiang Mai. From then on, Hariphunchai became an integral part of the Lanna Kingdom.

 

Ku Pa Lan, or Ku Heuang, is located in Ban Si Don Chai, Ban Thi Subdistrict. It is a small Lanna-style stupa adorned with intricate stucco designs. Each of the four sides of the stupa has niches, with the eastern niche featuring a Dharma wheel. This side is open, allowing entry into the stupa. The other three sides are solid walls. Inside, it is believed to house Buddha images.

 

The northern niche features a peacock design, while the southern and western niches have lost their decorations due to wear. The stucco decorations on Ku Pa Lan are reminiscent of those on the stupa at Wat Buppharam (Wat Chet Yot) in Chiang Mai, indicating a shared artistic style of the Lanna period.

 

In 1977, the villagers of Ban Si Don Chai decided to restore the abandoned site of Ku Pa Lan. They invited Phra Vajra Thewaro from Wat Pa Tan to lead the restoration efforts, transforming the abandoned site into a fully functional temple with monks in residence.