For the past century, the rich history of Thailand’s northern region has tended to be overlooked. Yet this region has had a remarkable influence on many aspects of Thai culture, and in some ways, thanks to its isolation and reluctance to change, has lovingly retained some of the kingdom’s most important historic sites.

From the mid 13th Century under King Mengrai, the north of Thailand became a kingdom unto itself - the ‘Kingdom of Lan Na’ which means the ‘Land of a Million Rice Fields’, with the city of Chiang Mai as the royal seat of power.

Today, what we now term as the ‘Lanna’ rule refers chiefly to the period AD 1259-1558 when northern Thailand and Chiang Mai in particular asserted itself as a centre of arts, culture and architecture - similar to the Italian city of Florence during the Renaissance - during an almost identical period of history.

During this time the Lanna Kingdom absorbed influences from many cultures including Luang Prabang (Laos), Yangon (Burma) and Jing Hong (China). The Lanna Kingdom would ultimately decline in the mid 16th Century, but since the 18th Century Lanna style has been enjoying a renaissance. This can be seen today in various aspects of Chiang Mai life.

The unique Lanna identity is summed up by the writer William Warren, in his book Lanna Style:

“Lanna seemed like another, very different world. The people had different, more gentle customs…they ate a different sort of food, with flavours that hinted of Burmese and Lao influences. Their festivals…were celebrated in a distinctive way, with an added zest, that made them memorable. They spoke a different language…Even the weather was different”.

In terms of architecture in particular, the period of Lanna rule produced the most exquisite carved wooden and brick structures, many of which were built for religious purposes from plentiful teak forests. Magnificently embellished Buddhist wats (temples) adorned with sweeping up-turned roofs, elegant murals, mirror glass mosaic and wondrously intricate lattice work epitomise Lanna splendour.

The Influence of Lanna Design on Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai
It is this refined royal heritage of the Lanna kings that Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai has lovingly embraced throughout its stunning 60 acres.

Far from taking the form of a conventional resort hotel, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai has, by virtue of its unique location in the heart of northern Thailand, created a magnificent heritage site inspired by the finest examples of authentic Lanna architecture.

The enchanting structures found around the resort’s beautiful grounds reflect the sublime serenity of the Lanna Kingdom, while the layout follows the fundamental template of an ancient royal city, namely:
• A series of moats and fortified walls
• A central ceremonial lawn or parade ground
• A replica of an ancient Buddhist prayer hall
• A palace
• A market
• Villas or palaces for nobility
• Administrative headquarters
• Farming villages on the outskirts
• Gardens and rice fields

These are all standard components of an ancient royal city, and each one is evident at Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai.

A team of over 1,000 labourers and skilled craftsmen worked for five years to build Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, painstakingly recreating an authentic collection of Lanna buildings fit for royalty.

The resort’s elegant guest accommodation reflects northern Thai vernacular homes and rice barns. The Dheva Spa and Wellness Centre borrows magnificently from Burmese and Shan influences on Lanna culture and the suites have been sumptuously designed as private royal retreats, while the paddy fields lie at the heart of this splendid testament to rural Lanna life.

In northern Thailand today, Lanna culture is slowly being revived. The local Lanna or Kam Muang dialect is spoken more widely and Lanna food, music and dance is also making a comeback. Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai celebrates the beauty and diversity of what it means to be Thai, while introducing Lanna culture to a new and sophisticated international audience.