The town of Lamphun is believed to have been founded in the early 9th century. It was the capital of the Hariphunchai Kingdom, a Mon Kingdom in North Thailand. Then called Hariphunchai, the town was bordered on the East side by the Kuang River and surrounded by a moat and defensive walls on the other three sides. The town was founded by Queen Chama Thewi, believed to be a Princess of the Lavo Kingdom from Lopburi. A large bronze statue of her in the public park honors the Queen to this day.