Avril-Ann Braganza
Visit the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park in Chiang Rai, complete with its ancient artefacts and experience it quite literally in an all-new light with the revival of Lanna culture.
If you’re at the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park in Chiang Rai between December1, 2014 and January 31, 2015, you will be lucky enough to see a hundred candles or more lit, every night. While the The Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park opens daily (except Monday) from 10 am to 10 pm, the Candlelight Museum will be on from 5 pm with special Lanna performances on weekends and public holidays at 7 30 pm and 8 30 pm.
Lanna performances are reflective of the Lanna dynasty’s culture. Lanna, which translates literally to ‘Kingdom of Million Rice Fields’ was a kingdom centered in present-day northern Thailand from the 13th to 18th centuries. Lanna culture, which is seeing a revival today, is a combination of various elements brought together from both historic and multi-ethnic contexts. The language, traditional clothes, architecture and cuisine are different from the rest of Thailand. Lanna performances are a form of dance native to northern Thailand and the performances at the candlelight museum serve to allow visitors a deeper insight into the Lanna culture that they can touch and feel through the artefacts and crafts.
The two-month Candlelight Museum, inaugurated in December last year, features hundreds of candles that are lit to spectacularly illuminate the exquisite ancient wooden Lanna-style candlesticks, crafts and artifacts dating back centuries. Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, TAT Governon said, “Visitors to Chiang Rai should not miss this one-of-a-kind exhibition. While marvelling at the many ancient artifacts of Lanna culture, visitors will also be impressed with the romantic atmosphere around the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park as the candles are lit to illuminate the entire premises.”
