“If you can’t resist drinking alcohol, you must tell me!” warned Tisna Prapansiri, Director of Wellness at The Dheva Spa and Wellness Centre, a gorgeous destination spa modelled after the Mandalay Palace, complete with a seven-tiered roof to represent the Buddhist concept of seven heavens leading to Nirvana, and located within Dhara Devi Chiang Mai.
Words: Beverly Rodrigues
“I’ll change your treatment. Otherwise, you’ll feel sick,” she explained. I was scheduled to experience an Ayurvedic massage, and though I could definitely resist imbibing alcohol for 24 hours, it was a little disappointing to think of that lonely bottle of Thai whisky in my room. Grudgingly, I promised to guzzle only warm water that night.
I’d never experienced a massage that came with dietary constraints, but perhaps, I’d never visited a wellness centre that was quite so holistic. At The Dheva Spa there’s no such thing as a gimmicky signature therapy; every treatment is tailored to a guest’s unique needs, which are ascertained via a comprehensive consultation with the resident Ayurvedic specialist. All guests undergo a Wellness Lifestyle Assessment and for those interested in a health programme, like a detox, a more detailed assessment is necessary; this includes an Energy Field Imaging (EFI) scan and dosha (body type) analysis.
After scrutinising the alignment of my toes and other physical traits, Tisna recommended Abhyanga, an ancient oil massage that works to balance body, mind and spirit, and acts on the blood and lymphatic system to eliminate impurities, rejuvenate skin, improve blood circulation, alleviate fatigue, promote better digestion, and prevent nervous system disorders. Like all treatments here, mine began with a warm welcome foot bath ritual, which involved a gentle salt scrub, setting the tone for the soothing massage to follow. Using a nourishing medicated oil of mint, rosemary, basil, eucalyptus and lavender, designed to improve the immune and respiratory systems, my therapist kneaded my body with firm strokes and light pressure. Though I strained to stay awake to remember every little detail, I could not resist falling asleep. When I awakened an hour later, I felt oily, sleepy and very relaxed. Soon after though, I began to feel a little feverish, and recalled that I’d been warned to expect this – a natural part of tissue cleansing. I’d never experienced such a strong reaction to a massage before. Fortunately, by morning, when I awoke in my 105 sq metre Colonial Suite, the unpleasant effects had dissipated, and I could enjoy a luxurious soak in my marble bath followed by a drink on my spacious balcony overlooking the lush gardens. With marble tiles bearing floral motifs, trellis work, floor-to-ceiling terrace doors and a voluminous walk-in wardrobe, my Colonial Suite was really quite exquisite.
I was lucky that the prohibition that came with my treatment was not as rigid as required by more serious programmes. At Le Grand Lanna, I savoured spicy Chiang Mai sausages and cap moo, crispy pork rind dunked in a green chilli dip, northern Thai dry pork curry with pickled bamboo shoots, and piquant steamed seabass, generously garnished with lemongrass and red chillies and served in a bubbling spicy lime sauce. At Fujian, which serves up Cantonese and contemporary Chinese fare, I indulged in a fabulous all-you-can-eat dim sum buffet that included crystal prawn dumplings, steamed shrimps and scallops with egg yolk and a platter of roasted duck and crispy pork that filled me up even before I started on the soup! With nine F&B outlets, including the modern fine dining French restaurant Farang Ses (a play on ‘Francais’) that serves up creative dishes like light and fluffy scallop and seabass mousseline with tapioca pearls in onion broth; leek cannelloni bursting with beautifully braised beef cheek drizzled in truffle sauce; and sweet and sticky meringue with caramel sauce and toasted almonds; dining at Dhara Dhevi is no small affair. For health conscious guests on a strict diet, a special menu may be enjoyed at Le Grand Lanna.
One might think that being limited in culinary indulgences would put a damper on a stay here, but honestly, with the many enriching activities on offer – yoga, Thai dance classes, cultural excursions where visitors offer morning alms to monks, rice planting etc. – Dhara Dhevi offers nourishment for the soul.
A lovely way to get in some exercise and give the buggy guys a break is by booking a bicycle for your stay. The serene 60-acre grounds of Dhara Dhevi, designed to encapsulate the history of the old Lanna Kingdom, are a pleasure to explore. Lanna translates as ‘Land of a Million Rice Fields’ and this is reflected in the tranquil paddy fields scattered between gorgeous Lanna-style teak villas, elegant colonial buildings and towering structures with Mandalay-style tiered roofs. The most stunning feature of the resort is definitely its architecture, an exquisite blend of Lanna and Mandalay styles, with elaborate carvings depicting mythical creatures like the naga (serpent) and kinnaree (half-bird, half-woman). You’ll also see sculptures of peacocks, which symbolise Dara Rasmi, the Lanna princess from whom the Dhara Dhevi takes its name. Dara Rasmi became consort to Rama V of Siam in 1886, effectively merging the Lanna Kingdom with Siam. To truly appreciate the history of Chiang Mai and discover architectural details, guests can opt for the Walking through the Past tour.
A stay at Dhara Dhevi is a healing experience and an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
DHARA DHEVI CHIANG MAI
Address: 51/4 Moo 1, Chiang Mai-Sankampaeng Road, T. Tasala, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand
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