A haven of peace
within the 700year old city walls of
Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand,
Rachamankha is a small, yet spacious
gem in the crown of Thai boutique
hotels. Designed by one of
Thailand’s most renowned architects,
and with the interior and
landscaping designed by an equally
renowned designer, the property is
more a work of art than a hotel.
With only 18 superior rooms, 4
deluxe rooms, and 2 two-bedroomed
suites set around two enclosed
courtyards privacy and serenity are
guaranteed. The colonnaded walkways
- reminiscent of Lanna, Northern
Thai, temples - and the central sala
give the guestroom courtyards an
ecclesiastical air: the structure of
the sala is in fact a ‘wiharn’, or
prayer hall from an old Lanna period
temple that was earmarked for
destruction; revived and rebuilt by
the architects at Rachamankha as a
very relaxing and quiet private
lounge area for the guests.
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HISTORY
There is a
wonderful timeless quality to
Rachamankha, as if it has been
here for countless centuries but
in fact it is a completely new
structure which opened for
business in 2004. This sense of
age was fully intended by the
architect who didn’t want to
create something new but wanted
to explore the classic designs
of Lanna temples, and ancient
Chinese residences, with which
he has created wonderfully
serene and relaxing spaces that
induce calm and quiet. These
effects are enhanced by the
extensive use of Asian antiques
and object d’art.
The experience continues in the
restaurant building which
houses, on the second floor, a
display of the owner’s private
collection of Lanna period
antiques: in fact, the property
is decorated throughout with
Asian antiques from the owner’s
collections. The hotel’s
heritage is also reflected in
the cuisine: it is probably the
only restaurant to feature
dishes from Lanna, Tai-Yai, Thai
and Myanmar cuisines together in
the same menu, which is designed
to inform diners, new to South
East Asian cuisine, on how to
order and fully enjoy the
regions gastronomy. Chef’s own
delicious take on European and
fusion dishes is also featured,
all of which are complimented by
a comprehensive wine list from
both the old and new worlds.
Guest comfort
is of paramount importance to
all at Rachamankha, there has
been no compromise in the name
of design with either guest
convenience or comfort. There is
wireless internet connection
throughout the hotel, accessible
in all the guestrooms, by the
pool, in fact anywhere on the
property. In keeping with the
Asian theme, traditional Thai
massage is available in the
massage spa on the second floor
of the pool pavilion - located
on the axis of the 20metre
teal-tiled pool. Every room has
satellite TV, with a full range
of channels, and a DVD player;
there is a library of modern
titles for free viewing by
guests available at the front
desk. The concierge service is
ready to recommend all that
Chiang Mai has to offer from an
incredible variety of excellent
restaurants, world class golf,
truly unique shopping and
cultural experiences, to jungle
adventures: we are sure we can
keep the most discerning of
guests entertained in Chiang
Mai.
From the outset, it was the
architect’s intention to pay
homage to Chiang Mai’s Lanna
period and take a step towards
beautifying the cityscape; this
has lead to a unique and
beautiful experience for
Rachamankha’s guests. The
architectural theme runs like a
thread throughout the property,
completing and harmonizing the
experience of cuisine, design
and hospitality, leaving the
guests with the feeling that
they are staying in a wonderful
home not simply a hotel.
The Lobby
GUEST ROOM SERVICE
Rachamankha
has 25 rooms, from 1 to 26: in
keeping with tradition there is
no room number 13. There are 3
types of room; 18 superior
rooms, 4 deluxe rooms and 2
suites. No, there’s no mistake,
we do have 25 rooms; suite 24
can be converted into 2 rooms, a
deluxe room and a superior room
if required.
The two
keynotes of Rachamankha are a
more personal, friendly service
- we want our guests to really
feel at home - and design. With
design in mind, the owner
personally designed the interior
of every room, fitting each one
with antique furniture and
object dŽart from his own
private collections to emphasize
the personal touch, and give
each room its own character.
During the
research phase of the project
that was to become Rachamankha,
the architect, Mr. Ong-ard
Satrabhandu visited and studied
many old Lanna temples; his
intention being to revisit and
revive the old architectural
forms of the region. On one such
visit he came across a temple
undergoing rebuilding, the old
wiharn was marked up for
demolition. Immediately
recognizing the importance and
rarity of the structure he
bought the entire building. It
became the central sala, or
pavilion, a quiet and
atmospheric space which acts as
a private lounge for the hotel’s
guests. The structure was
rebuilt in the original way: all
of the timber, columns and even
the rich, red finish is
original. Ironically, since the
completion of Rachamankha there
has been a Lanna revival with
many local temples being
restored to their original Lanna
forms: the sala has been studied
many times by artisans who have
been engaged in temple
restoration.
There are
18 superior rooms; 6 twin
rooms and 12 double rooms. Each
room has been individually
decorated with antiques
collected from the 3 regions
that have had the greatest
influence in the overall design
concept of the hotel; namely
Lanna, The Shan State of Myanmar
and China. There is nothing
antique about guest comfort:
satellite television, DVD
players, air-conditioning and
wireless internet connection as
standard. Every room has the
comfort and convenience of the
21st century, combined with the
enduring charm and classic
design of yester-year.
Rachamankha has 4 deluxe
rooms, each with its own
unique style. In keeping with
the theme of the hotel the rooms
are decorated with Asian
antiques. For guest comfort
modern amenities abound
including, wireless internet
connection, DVD players and
satellite television.
Room Specifications: The deluxe
rooms are 40sq.m. in size and
include room numbers 10 and 11
on the ground floor and 15 and
16 on the second floor.
Each of Rachamankha's two
suites comprises of two
bedrooms, with designer en-suite
bathrooms, a large lounge and a
kitchenette, yet the similarity
ends here.
Suite 26
is located above the
library. It has a large
private balcony with views
of the pool and gardens: a
very private space,
occupying as it does the
entirety of the second floor
of the library building. The
interior design beautifully
combines congeniality and
grandiose: in the judicious
use of soft furnishings,
occasional furniture and
deeply comfortable lounge
chairs one feels at home;
and with the opulent
details, the chandeliers,
plush drapes and canopy
beds, one feels at home in a
very grand home.
Suite 24
is located through a rather
unassuming doorway to the
right of the entrance
courtyard. The first space
one enters is a delightful
courtyard garden: privacy is
assured as suite 24 occupies
a corner position and the
garden space is walled. On
entering the suite there is
a real sense of being in a
living space, not the usual
sterile hotel environment,
as the object dŽart, for the
most part, are cherished
pieces from the owner’s
private collection.
Luxuriously
decorated with rare Asian
antiques and all the necessary
mod cons; Rachamankha’s two
suites tastefully combine the
timeless quality of classic
design with modern convenience.
Room
Specifications:
The suites are 100sq.m in size.
Suite 24
comprises of 2 en-suite
bedrooms - one with a
bath-tub and shower; a
spacious lounge; a
kitchenette and a small
private courtyard garden.
Suite 24
comprises of 2 en-suite
bedrooms - one with a
bath-tub and shower; a
spacious lounge; a
kitchenette and a large
private balcony overlooking
the library lawn.
RESTAURANTS & BAR
The
restaurant
building
houses
two
dining
environments
– the
interior
air-conditioned
dining
room and
the
courtyard;
the bar
and the
concierge;
and on
the
second
floor
the
gallery
and the
boutique.
The
air-conditioned
dining
room
seats up
to
60diners
in a
formal,
yet
relaxed,
dining
environment.
The
tables
are
dressed
in
crisp,
fresh
white
linen;
the
dinner
service
is blue
and
white
Chinese
porcelain;
the
walls
are
decorated
with
Ming
Dynasty
porcelain
and 19th
century
Thai
“Kradat
Khoi”
paintings;
the
waiting
staff
courteous
and
attentive
without
being
obtrusive.
The
courtyard,
which
can
comfortably
seat
70diners,
is used
throughout
the
year:
even
under a
canopy
or
sunshade
it is a
wonderful
space to
dine in,
or
simply
enjoy a
drink.
It is a
popular
venue
for
functions
and
small
wedding
parties.
The
Chinese
porcelain
on
display
in the
cabinet
is from
the Qing
Dynasty,
17th to
20th
centuries.
Ming
Dynasty
porcelain
decorates
the wall
adjacent
to the
stage.
The
sideboard,
with the
orchid
display,
is Qing
Dynasty,
late
19th
century,
and
would
have
been
used as
an altar
in a
family
home,
where
one
would
have
paid
respect
to
religious
icons
and
ancestors.
What
look
like
large
planters
would
originally
have
been
used in
temples,
or large
homes,
and
filled
with
sand or
earth to
place
burning
incense
sticks
when
making
devotions,
or
praying
at
altars
or
shrines.
The
square
painting
on the
back
wall of
the
restaurant
is 19th
century
Thai.
The
picture
has a
practical
history;
it would
have
been
used by
soothsayers
for
telling
fortunes
and
predicting
the
future.
The
twelve
figures
along
the top
of the
picture
represent
the
twelve
animals
of the
Chinese
zodiac.
Located
through a
passageway
off the
second
guestroom
courtyard,
Rachamankha’s
20m
teal-tiled
pool is
serviced by
the
two-storey
pool
pavilion
which houses
both the
pool bar,
and on the
second
floor, the
massage spa.
The pool bar
offers a
full
beverage
service and
a range of
hot and cold
dishes that
can be eaten
comfortably
poolside.
The massage
service,
performed by
well trained
and very
experienced
masseuses,
includes the
treatments
listed
below.
