Culture & Traditions
Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park
Mar
Table of Contents
Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park – the beginning
The Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park is on the outskirts of the City of Chiang Rai. It resorts under the Mae Fah Luang Foundation. Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra founded the Thai Hill Crafts Foundation in 1972. Its aim initially was to help the hill tribe communities marketing their craft products. Later it also focused on supporting the education of young people of the ethnic minorities to become dedicated, ethical leaders of their communities. The compound was known as “Rai Mae Fah Luang” which translates as Mae Fah Luang plantation. Many hill tribe people considered here a special patron and gave her the name Mae Fah Luang (Thai: แม่ฟ้าหลวง). This translates as the “Royal Mother from the Sky”.
The founding of the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park
In 1977 they renamed the plantation as the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, a center for Lanna arts and culture. The center boasts the region’s most extensive collection of Lanna artifacts. The work of the foundation shifted away from marketing of hill tribe crafts. It now focused on the much broader economic and social development for both hill communities and low-land Thais. Therefor they renamed the foundation in 1985 as the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother.
An overlooked destination
You would expect such a magnificent complex to be one of the most popular tourist attractions of Chiang Rai. Unfortunately, it is not. I have visited the place three times in the past couple of years and each time I have only met a handful of other visitors. The park is under the patronage of the Royal Family so it doesn’t lack funds and doesn’t have to attract visitors. Besides this is not easy to get to unless you have your own transportation. The park charges an entrance fee of 200THB per person and makes no distinction between local and oversees visitors. Many tourists think 200THB is too expensive, compared to the Blue Temple and Wat Huay Pla Kang, that have no entrance fee.
The Haw Kham (Golden Pavillion)
The highlight of the park is for many people the enormous Haw Kham (Golden Pavillion). It is entirely constructed from teak wood. Similar structures were the house of rulers of Lanna in the past but were probably smaller, according to local staff who gave some explanations of the many exhibits in the building. It contains a collection of Buddhist artifacts, Buddha images and other objects from different places in Northern Thailand. The Haw Kham is a stunning building. I have never seen anything like it anywhere else in Northern Thailand.
Haw Kaew (Emerald Pavillion)
The Haw Kaew is the second building of the park, which is right at the entrance. It is a museum that showcases a variety of Lanna artifacts, most of them of teak wood.This kind of wood is more or less the theme of the park. Most exhibits and buildings are from teak wood. The Haw Kaew museum also exhibits fantastic paintings of local landscapes, nature and village scenes from local artists, such as Canadian Robert Blair Porter and Jamras Phrommin.
Immaculate landscaped gardens
The park is also renowned for its lush gardens and serene landscapes, making it a perfect retreat for those seeking peace and inspiration. During my visit in December I met the local artist Sangiam Yarangsee working in a sala in the gardens of the park. It is the combination of the serenity, sounds of nature, historical architecture and the art and culture that make Rai Mae Fah Luang such a special place. The park opens at 0830 and I recommend to visit as early as possible. It is likely you will be the only visitor at the most beautiful part of the day. It closes at 1630.
Facts about the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park
Entrance fee is 200THB per person. The park is open from 1000 until 1800 from Tuesday until Sunday. On Monday the park is closed. There is no public transportation so you have to take a taxi.
