One of the most famous temples in Northern Thailand, Wat Phra That Lampang Luang is also one of the most attractive. The main buildings were constructed in the late 15th century on the site of an 8th-century fortress. This had been built on a mound to protect it from attack and was further fortified by three parallel earthen ramparts separated by moats. The ramparts are still visible in the village around the present wat . In 1736 a local hero, Tip Chang, successfully defended the temple from the Burmese. The buildings are distinctive for their graceful architecture and richly colored interiors, while the revered Phra Kaeo Don Tao image, allegedly carved from the same jadeite block as the Emerald Buddha, is kept in the museum behind the main complex.