A monument in Lamphun honors Queen Chamadevi, the first ruler of the ancient Hariphunchai Kingdom, and serves as a reminder of the period when Lamphun emerged as an important political and religious center in Northern Thailand. For residents, it is a familiar place of respect; for visitors, it offers a starting point for understanding the city’s deep Mon roots.

Queen Chamadevi is remembered as a capable and disciplined ruler who laid the foundations of Hariphunchai during the 7th–8th century. According to tradition, she came from the Mon cultural sphere of central Thailand and was invited to govern the newly established city. Her reign marked the beginning of organized statehood in the area, with systems of leadership, defense, and administration taking shape under her authority. Chronicles portray her not as a ceremonial figure, but as a hands-on leader who protected her kingdom from external threats and ensured internal stability.

One of Chamadevi’s most lasting contributions was her role in establishing Buddhism in Northern Thailand. During her reign, Buddhist monks, teachings, and practices were actively supported, making Hariphunchai an early center of Theravāda Buddhism in the region. This religious foundation influenced temple building, education, and cultural traditions that continued long after her time and shaped the character of Lamphun for centuries.

The monument, located near Nong Dok Park in the city center, reflects this legacy in a restrained way. The statue depicts Chamadevi seated with composure, emphasizing authority and wisdom rather than grandeur. It functions as both a civic landmark and a historical marker, woven into the everyday life of the city rather than set apart from it.

Accounts of Queen Chamadevi’s later years suggest that she ruled for a long period and eventually died peacefully, having secured the future of the kingdom she founded. While precise details of her death are uncertain, tradition holds that she lived to old age and passed away after fulfilling her role as founder and stabilizer of Hariphunchai. Her death marked the close of the kingdom’s formative era, but her influence continued through the institutions and religious traditions she helped establish.