Based in the old city of Chiang Mai, right opposite the Three Kings Monument, the Lanna Folklife Museum offers an exciting range of scenes and information about Lanna culture.
This white colonial style two-storey building, dating from 1935, was once the former district court of the city. It now revives the Lanna culture and showcases the beauty of centuries-old northern heritage. Lanna Folklife Museum’s permanent exhibition features textiles, ancient pottery, religious sculptures and intricate symbolism of elements from Lanna monasteries. All that with clear and well translated English information.
Walking around the 18 exhibition rooms you will discover essential parts of the city’s history. The four main rooms present temple reproduction (with details on the architecture, religious accessories and beliefs), Lanna folk accessories (and their meaning in Lanna festivals), textiles (with hand woven silk clothes from each different part of the North) and traditional paintings (with a very interesting reproduction of the different steps in painting inside a temple). Other rooms show Buddha images, folk culture, musical instruments, traditional dances, history and war equipment. There is also a vast exhibition of old ceramics and Buddha images. The building has two floors and its visit takes about an hour and a half.
Culture and traditions are very important to the people of Chiang Mai and this museum is an excellent introduction to Lanna lifestyle. It may even be the best first stop before heading to the many temples in the old city. After discovering all the secrets of the Northern city of Chiang Mai, you are bound to see the “Rose of the North” in a different light.
LANNA FOLKLIFE MUSEUM :
Phrapoklao Road. Phra Singh. Chiang Mai
Tel. 053-217 793
8:30 am. to 5 pm. | Close on Monday
