Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai was created as a tribute to Northern Thailand’s rich architectural and cultural heritage of the historic Lanna Kingdom that influenced the region for 300 years from the end of the 13th century. Set on 60 acres in an authentic rural setting with working rice paddies and resident water buffaloes, the resort was conceived like an ancient city, with small clusters of luxurious villas, restaurants and recreational areas. The Villas are authentic Northern Thai rice houses made out of teak wood. The Suites are set in a beautiful colonial style two-storey building surrounded by lush tropical gardens. Horse-drawn carriages and tri-shaws take guests around the resort to the hotel’s excellent restaurants. Le Grand Lanna set in a traditional Lanna style building offers cuisine from both Northern and Central Thailand. Overlooking the rice paddy fields the Farang Ses serves modern French cuisine and in an elegant two-storey Sino-Portuguese style mansion the Fujian serves Imperial Chinese cuisine. The Dheva Spa and Wellness Centre housed in a cluster of teak buildings offers traditional treatments based on local and ancient healing techniques. “We have rebuilt the past so that some of those Lanna traditions can be kept alive for the future” (Rachen Intawong, conceptual Designer).