Wiang Kum Kam

Overview

Wiang Kum Kam is the excavated archaeological site of an ancient city on the south bank of the Ping River, predating Chiang Mai by several decades. The ruins include partially restored temples, stupa bases, and laterite walls spread across mango orchards and quiet residential land.

Highlights

• Wat Chedi Liam: The best-preserved monument, a stepped-pyramid chedi in the Haripunchai style unique to this area.
• Horse-Cart Tours: Traditional horse-drawn carts circle the scattered ruins (about 40 minutes).
• Open-Air Museum: Information boards at each ruin explain the original structures and archaeological finds.

History

King Mengrai founded Wiang Kum Kam in about 1286 as his first capital in the Ping basin. Persistent flooding forced him to move to higher ground, founding Chiang Mai in 1296. The abandoned city was gradually buried by river sediment and only rediscovered in the 1980s.

Visitor Tips

• Best by bike: The ruins are spread over a wide area; a bicycle gives the most freedom.
• Avoid midday: There is little shade among the ruins.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.