The Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park is one that has an intriguing history. Initially established as the headquarters of the Thai Hill Crafts Foundation, it was known as the Rai Mae Fah Luang. Founded by the Princess Mother, this park is also home to the Youth Leadership Project which invited and encouraged youth from across the country to attend and learn about modern Thailand. These students spent their days at the centre in a rather communal manner, sharing the burdens of cleaning, gardening and growing their own produce and this form of social interaction was highly encouraged in order to facilitate communal living and social dialogue that would shape dedicated individuals who were sensitive to the needs of the people. With the establishment of the Doi Tung Development Project, this function concluded and at present, the Mae Fah Luang Art & Cultural Park is home to the largest art collection deriving items from the Tai and Lanna culture.
The park has since then been opened to tourists and those who wish to visit the Mae Fah Luang Art & Cultural Park should avoid visiting on Mondays as it is closed. However it is open throughout the week on the remaining six days from 8.30am to 5.30pm. When visiting the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, tourists and locals alike can look forward to seeing numerous artefacts and demonstration of Tai architecture. For instance, the park consists of the Golden Pavilion, known in the local vernacular as the ‘Haw Kham’, a gift to the Princess Mother, an exhibition on teakwood named Haw Kaew and even a botanical garden featuring exotic and indigenous plant species.
If all this does not tempt you to step out of your hotel Chiang Rai and visit Mae Fah Luang, perhaps its beautifully manicured garden will. This garden achieves the perfect combination of tranquillity and beauty and provides for a very serene day out. If you wish to visit Chiang Rai, a marvellous option in terms of accommodation and one that echoes the serenity of the park itself, is Anantara Golden Triangle Thailand. It is one of the leading Chiang Rai hotels and offers an ideal base from which to explore the region.