THE NATURAL SPLENDOUR OF DOI TUNG
"SWITZERLAND
OF THAILAND":
THE NATURAL SPLENDOUR OF DOI TUNG
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When HRH The Princess Mother first set eyes on Doi Tung, the mountainsides were stripped bare, denuded by the traditional 'slash and burn' agricultural technique employed by hill-tribe communities who moved to the area in the last half century, and by opium cultivation. Today, as a result of the success of reforestation efforts initiated by Her Royal Highness The Princess Mother, mountainsides stripped bare in 1987 are once again covered with forests. Visitors to Doi Tung are mesmerised by the natural splendour of the forested hills.
In 1993, the Mae Fah Luang Garden was awarded the Pacific Asia Tourist Association (PATA) Gold Award, in recognition of the development of the Mae Fah Luang Garden as a new tourist destination. |
THE DOI TUNG DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
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The
principle goal of the Doi Tung Development Project
has been to stop illegal opium production and other
environmentally-destructive practices.
HRH The Princess Mother recognised that in order to address both the social and environmental problems of Doi Tung, an effective reforestation and development programme was needed. It was also important that reforestation efforts replicate conditions as they exist naturally. HRH The Princess Mother believed that it was possible for people and forests to co-exist in harmony with the people preserving the forests around them, and the forests supporting the livelihood of the people. Under the guidance of HRH The Princess Mother, the peoples who have settled in the northern hills have embraced a new-found respect for their surroundings. Their efforts and perseverance of have contributed to the restoration of Doi Tung. |
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THE ROYAL VILLA ON DOI TUNG At 1,000 metres above sea-level, the Villa on Doi Tung offered a picturesque view of the mountainous landscape of Doi Tung and the lowlands of the Chiang Rai valley. Breathtaking vistas reminiscent of the landscape near Her Royal Highness' residence in Lausanne, Switzerland, where HRH The Princess Mother resided for many years. The Doi Tung Royal Villa was the first residence of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra, The Princess Mother, and was used as a base from which HRH The Princess Mother would oversee work on the Doi Tung Development Project. HRH The Princess Mother was personally involved in the development of the concept for The Royal Villa and closely supervised its construction, aided by HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, her daughter. The brief to the architects stressed simplicity and multi-functional use for the royal residence. |
| All images © Mae Fah Luang Foundation | |
The
Royal Villa, which incorporates a harmonious blend
of Swiss architectural-style and the indigenous
architectural style of northern Thai or Lanna culture,
consists of 4 interconnected buildings.
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On
the hill slopes just below The Royal Villa, beautifully
landscaped gardens, featuring decorative and flowering
plants, a Rock Garden, Water Garden, Palm Garden
and an Ornamental Plant Garden, spread over 25 rai
(nearly 4 hectares) of land present a magnificent
floral tapestry that speaks of the remarkable diversity
of plant life.
In the cool climate of the northern highlands, plant life flourishes with flowers coming into bloom all year round, making Mae Fah Luang Garden, one of the brightest and most colourful sites in Thailand.
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All images © Mae Fah Luang Foundation
MAE FAH LUANG ARBORETUM
At Chang Mub, Doi Chang Mub
 All images © Mae Fah Luang Foundation |
At 1,509 metres above sea-level, Doi Chang Mub peak is the highest mountain in the Doi Tung Development Project. The mountain range marks the Thai-Burmese border, and the highest peak on Doi Chang Mub is located within Thai territory. A natural spring at Doi Chang Mub has been named "Nam Phra Tai" meaning "Her Royal Kindness", symbolic of the kindness of Her Royal Highness and the benefits of her life's work that flow like the waters from Doi Tung to the lowlands below. |
 All images © Mae Fah Luang Foundation |
Under the guidance of HRH The Princess Mother, what was once a barren site, covered with one of the largest opium fields in Thai territory, has been reforested, and is now the site of the Mae Fah Luang Arboretum. New facilities recently added to the arboretum include walkways, multi-purpose building, a picnic pavilion, leisure pavilions and a scenic observation point. Many new and rare trees have been added along with an extensive variety of rhododendron and azalea, orchids and wild orchids, now covering over 60 rai (10 hectares) of the site. |
ETHNIC MINORITY VILLAGES
 
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Twenty-six villages of ethnic minorities can be found within the Doi Tung Development Project area. Twenty-four are hill-tribe communities, predominantly Akha, Lahu, with Lue, Lisu, Shan or Thai Yai, Chinese Haw and others living in their midst. These villages are now accessible by road, and have electrical and water supply, and other physical and social infrastructure. Training and employment opportunities conducted under the Doi Tung Development Project, have significantly raised the income level and brought better quality of life to the residents of these hill-tribe communities. However, the ethnic minorities of Doi Tung still maintain their unique culture and traditions, and continue to observe ancient rituals and celebrate their traditional festivals. |
| All images © Mae Fah Luang Foundation | |
PRODUCTS
OF DOI TUNG
Agricultural
and horticultural products, handicrafts, and cottage
industry products
 All images © Mae Fah Luang Foundation |
One of the fundamental goals of the Doi Tung Development Project has been to create new employment and generate increased income for the residents of the project area. Agricultural and horticultural products, handicrafts, and cottage industry products are available for wholesale and retail sale. AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS To ensure that the cultivation of certain cash crops support a sustainable environment, special attention is given to the selection of plants species that are well-suited to the typographical and climatic conditions of Doi Tung. The main agricultural activities consist of tissue culture, mushroom production, the cultivation of temperate vegetables, coffee-planting and processing, the production of cut and potted flowering plants and decorative plants. Care in the harvesting process and grading ensures the high quality of Doi Tung products. While much of the area originally used in agricultural production has been converted back to forestland, income earned from agricultural activities is higher than what it has been in the past - a testament to the success of the development effort. |
HANDICRAFT AND COTTAGE INDUSTRIES
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A variety of activities, such as the textile-weaving, production of handwoven carpets, and "Sa" paper from the bark of mulberry trees, and coffee production, have been introduced to supplement the community's income from agriculture. A Cottage Industry Centre and Outlet helps residents to acquire and develop new skills. Handicraft items produced by the cottage industries retain traditional elements, but the quality and design has been significantly enhanced to meet the needs of the local as well as international market. |
DOI TUNG ZOO
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Doi Tung Zoo covers an open space of over 200 rai (32 hectares) in the project area. The zoo was initially established as a wildlife breeding and animal conservation station to help reintroduce many species to a reforested Doi Tung. Rare species from nearby forests are kept at the zoo to ensure their continued survival. These include Siamese fireback pheasants, peacocks, bears, sambar deer, barking deer and hog deer. The
zoo is open to the pubic and offers the opportunity
to view wildlife in their natural surroundings. |
PHRA THAT DOI TUNG
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Phra That Doi Tung is the oldest and most revered "Chedi" or pagoda in the Lanna region (covering northern Thailand, the Shan states of Myanmar, and northern Laos). The chedi, erected in 911 AD, is believed to house the collar-bone of the Lord Buddha. |
| MAE
FAH LUANG "Mother From The Sky" As part of her efforts to help improve the living standards of villagers throughout the country by and promoting improvements in healthcare, education, and living conditions, Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra, The Princess Mother, mother of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, would travel to the remote hill tribe communities of northern Thailand by helicopter, bringing with her medical supplies, food and clothing. HRH The Princess Mother made such visits to the villages nearly every year. As HRH The Princess Mother was seen "descending from the sky" in the helicopter, the hill tribe villagers soon came to call her "Mae Fah Luang" or "Mother from the sky". MAE FAH LUANG FOUNDATION
The emblem of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation depicts a price of hill-tribe embroidery encircled by a silver hill-tribe neck band. The embroidered cloth is indigenous to all of the hill-tribe peoples who use needlework to adorn their costumes. The design is symbolic of an "all-seeing eye" that oversees the work of the Foundation and impedes the occurrence of any malevolent circumstances. The silver neck band represents the marketing strategies of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation to raise the income levels of the hill-tribe peoples, as in this region, silver is the traditional form of currency transacted. A symbol of wealth, the hill-tribe peoples wear silver ornaments. THE HALL
OF OPIUM/GOLDEN TRIANGLE PARK CONTACT INFORMATION MAE FAH
LUANG FOUNDATION |
