User:The Dhara Dhevi/sandbox

History
In November 2006, the kingdom of Thailand celebrates the arrival of The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai, a world-class hotel that brings together incomparable luxury, heritage and well being. Unique in concept and design and built on an unprecedented scale, the hotel pays homage to Lanna’s rich melting pot culture and showcases the beauty of its art, architecture craftsmanship and design traditions.

When the owner of the property, a Thai businessman hailing from the country’s far south, moved to Chiang Mai in 1999, he was immediately taken with beauty of the north and dreamed of building a hotel that would capture the essence of Lanna’s unique cultural heritage. He set about recruiting a team of passionate, young Thai architects and designers and together they travelled through Thailand, Southeast Asia and beyond, visiting little known sites in and out of the way places in search of ideas and inspiration.

In 2001, he purchased sixty acres of land in Muang Chiang Mai district and construction on the hotel began. Over a 5-year period, thousands were involved with this hotel project, from designers and architects to builders, engineers and craftspeople. Through their efforts, this inspirational hotel with 123 villas and suites, is far more than a deluxe five-star property offering the finest in services and amenities. It is a living museum born from a simple wish of the owner, Mr. Suchet Suwanmongkol; to preserve the beauty of Lanna culture and to create a space that nourishes the traditions, craftsmanship and intangible charms of its people.

In a short period of time, The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai has not only fostered a heightened awareness of northern Thailand’s past but has started to alter the appearance of Chiang Mai’s cityscape itself.

Hotel
Offering some of the world’s most spacious and exclusive accommodation, the hotel’s 123 luxurious villas, colonial suites, and signature residences have been locally handcrafted in keeping with traditional Lanna architecture, and feature extensive museum-quality artefacts and antiques. The villas open onto spacious open terraces, some of which feature private plunge pools or swimming pools. Exquisitely designed interiors and signature technology all contribute to an overall atmosphere of luxury and serenity.

Awards
• Voted to be one of the Best Resorts in Asia: Readers' Choice Awards 2014, Conde Nast Traveler, April 2015 • Ranked no. 29 in Top 50 World’s Best Hotels by Travel + Leisure Magazine, January 2015 • Named as one of the Top 500 World’s Best Hotels by Travel + Leisure Magazine (94.67%), January 2015 • Ranked no. 6 in Top 25 Hotels in Thailand in TripAdvisor Traveler Choice 2015, January 2015 • Ranked no. 9 in Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Thailand in TripAdvisor Traveler Choice 2015, January 2015 • Ranked no. 17 in Top 25 Hotels for Service in Thailand in TripAdvisor Traveler Choice 2015, January 2015 • Included in the Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List as one of the top hotel in world and world’s best hotels, December 2014 • Named as a winner of Agoda.com’s 2014 Gold Circle Awards for being a top performing property based on customer feedback and reviews, October 2014 • Ranked no. 4 in Top Resorts in Asia and no. 28 in Top 100 Hotels Overall 2014 by Travel + Leisure, July 2014 • Voted to be one of the Top 5 Hotel Spas in Asia by Travel + Leisure, July 2014 • Ranked no. 1 in Top 25 Hotels in Thailand in TripAdvisor Traveler Choice 2014, January 2014 • Ranked no. 2 in Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Thailand in TripAdvisor Traveler Choice 2014, January 2014 • Ranked no. 7 in Top 25 Hotels for Romance in Thailand in TripAdvisor Traveler Choice 2014, January 2014 • Named as one of the Top 500 World’s Best Hotels, January 2014 by Travel + Leisure Magazine • Voted as one of the top hotels in Thailand, Condé Nast Traveler, US – Readers’ Choice Awards 2014 listing, January 2014