Chiang Rai, 13 January, 2014
– The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is inviting international and
local tourists to visit the special “Candle Light Museum” at the Mae
Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park in Chiang Rai.
Mr.
Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of TAT said, “The Candle Light Museum at
the Mae Fah Laung Art and Cultural Park is the first of its kind in
Thailand and is unlike anywhere else. Visitors to Chiang Rai should not
miss this magnificent exhibition, where the exquisite hundred-year-old
wooden crafts are being beautifully decorated with candle light.”
The
Candle Light Museum is the first-ever exhibition of its kind as candles
are lit to spectacularly illuminate the exquisite wooden Lanna-style
candlesticks and artefacts aged over several hundred years. Visitors
will also be impressed with the romantic atmosphere around the art and
culture park as the candles are lit to illuminate the entire premises.
The Museum, which is set to exhibit until 31 January, 2014, is open daily (except Monday) from 10:00 – 22:00
hrs. Saturday, Sunday and public holidays will be more special as
visitors will be served with complimentary welcome drinks and will have
the chance to enjoy Lanna traditional performances, which are organised
twice a day at 19:30 and 20:30 hrs.
Beyond 31 January, 2014,
when the Candle Light Museum concludes, international and local
visitors can still marvel at the many interesting attractions offered at
the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, established in 1977 as a part
of the Doi Tung Development Project, initiated by the late Princess
Mother.
Initially,
the Project was aimed to be a training camp for 450 hill tribe youths
appointed to lead their communities for the sufficiency economy and
sustainable living. After the basic education developed to reach those
hill tribe children in remote areas, the training camp was later turned
into an art and culture park to house the collections of Lanna wooden
art and crafts. It is now considered as one of Thailand’s largest
collections of ancient artefacts of Lanna cultures.
There
are three main buildings within the 150-rai art and cultural park: Haw
Kham (Golden Pavilion) – a northern Thai term for royal residence which
was donated as a gift from the people of Chiang Rai as a residence for
HRH the Princess Mother, patron of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, in
appreciation for her regular presence and concern for the people of
Chiang Rai. Today, it is used to house and display the largest
collection of ancient Lanna art and teak artefacts; Haw Kham Noi has
19th century ancient mural paintings and Haw Kaew and Sala Kaew features
permanent and rotating teak wood exhibitions.
Aside
from the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, tourists can also visit
various other interesting attractions under the Doi Tung Development
Project nearby including:
Doi Tung Royal Villa
(entry fee 90 Baht): The Royal Villa at Doi Tung was built in 1990 to
celebrate the 90th birthday of the late Princess Mother who arduously
worked on her royal project here to improve the quality of life of the
hill tribe people. The two-storey wooden building was designed with a
combination of northern Thai and Swiss chalet style of architecture. The
interior is decorated with wood slabs cut from golden teak wood. The
simplicity and functionality truly reflect the personality of the
Princess Mother. The highlight of the Royal Villa is on the ceiling of
the main hall. It has hand-crafted wood inlay of the Princess Mother’s
favourite constellations.
Mae
Fah Luang Garden (entry fee 90 Baht): the must-see attraction of the
Doi Tung Development Project features a beautiful garden of cold-climate
flowers and indigenous floras of Doi Tung. It is located on over 40 sq.
km. of land that once was the Akha village of Pa Kluay that used to be
an important route for opium caravans and those involved in
heroin-related trafficking and weapons. But since the Doi Tung
Development Project came into existence, villagers have been encouraged
to stop the opium trade and involved in the development project. Today,
the decorative flowers in the Mae Fah Luang Garden are grown and
nurtured by local villagers and the Garden can bring substantial income
to the area, thus develop the quality of life of the local villagers.
The
garden of Mae Fah Luang features more than 70 indigenous flora and wild
plants found in the Doi Tung area. It also includes the famous
sculpture “Continuity” by the late artist Misiem Yip-In-Soi in the
middle of the garden. There are also a fountain, a rock garden, a
section of ornamental flowers, and a palm garden. The garden has
different kinds of flowers in full bloom all year round.
Hall
of Inspiration (entry fee 50 Baht): The exhibition here covers the
story of the Mahidol Family, from His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol, Her
Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra the Princess Mother, Her Royal
Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol and
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The
new exhibition shows the character, philosophies and working principles
of the Family, and their diligence to find ways to improve the lives
and livelihoods of the Thai people in all corners of the Kingdom through
simple but effective works. It also shows how the members of the Family
inspired each other, and how their examples can inspire so many others.
It
is hoped that those who visit the “Hall of Inspiration” will better
understand the role of the Mahidol Family in the country, and from the
example of this family will themselves become inspired to do good works
for the benefit of society.
For
visitors wishing to visit all the three attractions, a combined ticket
of three places is available at 190 Baht (from 230 Baht).
Chiang
Rai is the northernmost province of Thailand, 785 km from Bangkok. Thai
Airways International, Orient Thai Airlines, Nok Air and Air Asia
operate daily flights between Bangkok and Chiang Rai. The flight takes
about 1.15 hrs. There are also air-conditioned and non-aircon bus
services from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road.
The journey takes about 11 hrs.
For more information, contact:
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Dubai & Middle East Office
133 Sheikh Zayed Road, Apartment # 1804,
DusitThaniDubai,P.O. Box 450019, Dubai, U.A.E
Tel: +971 4 324 0184 Fax: +971 4 325 0187
