TA004 : “Unseen” Wieng Kumkam The Old City – Half Day

Overview :  Wieng Kum Kan was founded in AD 1286 or 87-the Buddhist Era calendar has a new year starting in mid-April, This was after King Mengrai had left the captured city of Lamphun because that city had flooded badly. He did not go directly to Wieng Kum Kam, but upon arrving here, he found a small village with Mon-Dvaraviti inhabitants and a temple (believed to be part of the current ruins called Wat Hua Nong). King Mengrai's first actions were to build city walls, and to dig a moat around the west and south sided of the area to become his city. The old course of the River Ping protected the north and east sides, and served as a moat there. Having secured the site, he had many buildings erected, including palaces, stables and barracks. He then turned to religious matters and built the stupa at Wat Chedi Liam.
Whilst the fortifications as a whole were called Wieng (fort) Kum Kam, the interior was called "Ban Mai" or new village. Later this name was re-used&modified for the newer city of Chiang Mai (New City) leading some to incorredtly propose that Ban Mai was the original location of the successor city.