For the past century, the rich history of Thailand’s Northern region has tended to be overlooked. Yet the North of Thailand has had a remarkable influence on many aspects of Thai culture, and in some ways, thanks to its isolation and reluctance to change, has 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”, meaning 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 North Thailand, and in particular, Chiang Mai 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), Mandalay (Myanmar) and Jing Hong (China). Though the Lanna Kingdom would ultimately decline in the mid-16th century, since the 18th century Lanna style has been enjoying a renaissance, seen today in 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 epitomised Lanna splendour.

The Influence of Lanna Design on Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi
It is this refined royal heritage of the Lanna kings that Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi has embraced in its stunning property in Chiang Mai.

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

The structures that are found in Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi’s 60-acre grounds echo the sublime serenity of the Lanna Kingdom and the layout of the site follows the fundamental template for 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 its outskirts
• Gardens and rice fields

All of these elements are standard components of an ancient royal city, and each one is evident at Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi.

A team of over 1,000 labourers and skilled craftsmen worked for five years to build Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, 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 spa borrows magnificently from the Burmese and Shan influences on Lanna culture, the suites have been sumptuously designed as private royal retreats, while the paddy fields lie at the heart of 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 part of this revival. Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi celebrates the beauty and diversity of what it means to be Thai while introducing Lanna culture to a new and sophisticated international audience.