In the early 1900s Chiang Mai was at the centre of a thriving teak industry. Foreign managers oversaw logging concessions throughout the forests of Northern Thailand. With the help of local labour and hardy elephants they performed their arduous and dangerous work, extracting teak logs and floating them downstream for grading and sale.
Today the teak wallahs are gone. But the river and forestry station remain, and the relaxed ambiance of Chiang Mai city is just as enticing as ever. The Ping Nakara takes inspiration from these times past with an intimate hotel built in the elegant colonial style of the period.
The hotel’s graceful gingerbread architecture is accented by hand-carved fretwork and creates a cool and restful environment. Throughout the nineteen rooms you’ll find thoughtful use of natural materials and a distinctive yet practical style. This sophisticated design is matched by relaxed yet professional service, providing a welcoming retreat for the traveller.
So please visit us when you’re in Chiang Mai. Enjoy the serenity of the veranda next to the pool, curl up with a book in our library, or unwind with a drink in the rotunda. Whatever your preference, we’re sure you’ll enjoy this return to elegance.
The Nakara Spa
The Nakara Spa is located in the hotel and is a center for the application of Ayurvedic spa treatments for holistic health and relaxation.
Ayurveda is a holistic system of healing which was developed among the wise sages of ancient around 3,500 years ago. It emphasizes establishing and maintaining a balance of the life energies within us, rather than focusing on individual symptoms.
Until recently Nakara Jardin was a private property on the banks of the Ping River, a lush tropical garden established many years ago. The kind of property which it would be impossible to find and buy these days. It was while relaxing here that Le Cordon Bleu-trained Chef Pomme had the idea of making it an all-day easy dining spot for local and foreign customers alike.
While the garden itself was originally typical Thai - replete with Sweet Shorea, Spanish Cherry,n Cork and Frangipani trees, all overshadowed by a magnificent rain tree - the food Chef Pomme wished to serve was French, and so the garden was developed into an innovative and unique French Tropical style.
The designer, taking inspiration from the graceful curves of the weeping willow which overhangs the Ping river, brought in the colours and stylistic flourishes of a Monet garden. Thus was born this perfect setting for relaxed French dining, with crafted coffees, imported teas and delightful patisserie, all at affordable prices.
Our nineteen large rooms are individually styled, each one decorated with unique hand-crafted furniture. Decorative accessories and furnishings reflect colonial traditions and are made from the highest quality materials. In the bathroom you'll find a range of natural bath and beauty products supplied by the Nakara Spa. All rooms are fully equipped with modern amenities. A central elevator serves all three floors of the hotel. In short, the rooms at Ping Nakara have been created to provide you with tranquil beauty in the elegant style of times past, but with all the modern facilities that today’s traveller might require, including our renowned pillow menu.
"We offer guests a complimentary full breakfast. Our breakfast is a combination of self service buffet of daily changing foods as well as made to order hot dishes, all at our guest's choice. Freshly brewed coffee and tea are also included. Guests can enjoy dining in the restaurant or restaurant terrace, and the pool area. Our restaurant serves traditional authentic Thai cuisine and is justly famous for high quality. Open to the public, we serve a wide array of Thai foods. In the afternoon, we also serve traditional afternoon tea, with a selection of sandwiches and Thai desserts (from 14:30 until 17:30). Our restaurant serves until 22:00 and is available for late dining and room service. Chiang Mai has a splendid selection of fine restaurants to serve almost any taste and budget, and we encourage our guests to visit them as well. We are very happy to assist in selecting a suitable restaurant and making bookings for our guests. On request, our chef will prepare an authentic Thai culinary menu exclusively for hotel guests. If you would like to partake in this unique dining experience during your stay, please let us know when you book with us so we can arrange this for you. To enhance your experience at Ping Nakara, the hotel pool is only steps away from the veranda, an open air terrace created with the art of lounging in mind. Adjacent to the veranda you’ll find the reading room and library, with internet facilities and the hotel’s famous rotunda room. Refreshments are available from the lobby bar. And should work intrude, a meeting room is available for small groups."