Rachamankha Resort: Chiang Mai

Created by two of Thailand’s most renowned designers and architects, Rachmankha is more a treasury of old Lanna culture than simply a hotel. Lanna artwork and Chinese antiquities abound in every room and space, along with unique pieces from Burma and Laos.

No expense was spared, nor was any detail ignored, in constructing and decorating Rachamankha. For architect Ong-ard Satrabandhu and designer Rooj Changtrakul, this labour of love transcends the bottom line.

Modeled after the viharn or ‘chapel’ of one of Thailand’s most beautiful temples — the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang in Lampang province—this 24-room, single storey inn is a neat assemblage of white plaster buildings capped by peaked terracotta roofs. To reflect its roots in Thai architecture, the hotel was planned according to ancient building principles.

At its heart are two manicured courtyards, rich with flowering trees and an open-air pavilion decorated with plush white couches, pots of vibrant flowers, and antique Thai artwork. Peace reigns here despite Rachamanhka’s location just off Chiang Mai’s main thoroughfare.

Thick walls covered with white limestone plaster keep the rooms invitingly cool. Large and comfortable, the rooms. each differ slightly in décor, thanks to the antique furnishings: old Lanna-style doors with ornate handles, table lamps of delicate Chinese porcelain, and charming lanterns with dangling tassels.

A teal-tiled pool inspires contemplation, while a handsome library of art and history books could keep Rachamankha’s guests entertained for days. A huge cloth painting depicting the life of Lord Buddha presides over The Restaurant. Here, traditional Thai cuisine is served alongside a selection of dishes that combine the flavours of Vietnam, Japan and Europe. After your meal, adjourn to the Bar, decorated with a rare Chinese antique liqueur screen and lithographs by early 20th century painters.

So chic and well-designed is this hotel that it made the Conde Nast Traveller 2005 Hot List—less than a year after it opened. It certainly is no mean feat, yet one would expect nothing less of an establishment that was created through a passion for culture and excellent design.

There are 2 two-bedroom suites • 4 deluxe rooms • 18 superior rooms. Each guest room is slightly different because the furniture is antique, and each piece is different. The door is an old Lanna style door with an ornate door handle and wooden bolts. The window blind is made from bamboo, and reeds are used to make the colorful floor matting.

The table lamps are made from Chinese porcelain, and a Lanna lantern with a tassel that matches the color of the antique wardrobe hangs down in the centre of the room. Even the sink counter in the bathroom is a Chinese antique. The walls are decorated with dais art from Chan state in Myanmar. The Deluxe rooms differ from the Superior rooms in that they are larger (42 m² compared to 30 m² ), have a four-pester bed, and look down onto the main courtyard.