Cafe DoiTung

Mae Fah Luang Garden is located on what was originally an important route and a rest stop for opium caravans in the past. Today it is a beautifully landscaped garden with a large variety of decorative flowers especially the Lady’s Slipper, a temperate climate orchid, as well as ferns and large perennials grown on the hillside. The garden has been landscaped to attract visitors of all ages, and also includes a playground.

Doi Tung Royal Villa was designed with a fusion of the architectural elements of Lanna architecture and the Swiss chalet. It emphasises frugality, simplicity and functionality which conform to the Princess Mother’s philosophy, for instance using pine wood recycled from container crates from Klongtoey Port to make wall panels.

The Princess Mother called Doi Tung Royal Villa “the house on Doi Tung”, and it was her residence when she carried out her work at Doi Tung. The outstanding features of the royal villa are the carved wood panels made by local artisans, and the constellation ceiling using recycled pine wood inlaid in the form of the stars in the position of the constellations on October 21, 1900, the day the Princess Mother was born.

The Hall of Inspiration is an exhibition space that covers the life of the Mahidol family and how their mutual inspiration was transformed into a development effort to help solve the country’s social problems. These are reflected through their achievements, simple daily routines and their perseverance in improving the wellbeing of the people, which serves to inspire visitors .

Located in Chiang Rai city, Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, also known as Rai Mae Fah Luang, is well-known for its large collection of Lanna architecture, Buddhist artifacts, antiques and teak artifacts. It also features a botanical collection of rare indigenous plants. It is therefore a tourist destination that offers art and serenity in a sylvan setting.

The park was originally a lodging for ethnic youth from remote areas who had received scholarships from the Princess Mother to further their schooling in an urban setting. Not only did they receive formal schooling, they also learned social skills such as how to live and interact with others. It was therefore a place for “cultivating people” in the foundation’s sense of the word.

This area was once the largest opium growing area on Doi Tung, but has now been transformed into an arboretum where native flora and rare species are grown alongside different varieties of rhododendron. It is also a good place for birdwatching, with both local and migratory species to be seen.