A tropical garden beside the Ta Chine river. A timeless collection of natural and cultural gems. Freed from the vagaries of fashion and fads, The Rose Garden Riverside is a living gallery of Traditional Thai Living. The 70-acre property is one family’s unique vision of Thailand - and the product of more than 40 years of care and creativity. Three generations have created this riverside oasis and the perfect hub for discovering Thailand.
From here, you are just 1 hour from Bangkok - yet you feel miles apart. As director Arrut Navaraj says, traditional Thai Living recalls less complicated times. “How we live here is a glimpse into the way Thai people used to live, and how a community works.” The Rose Garden is Thailand the way it used to be - and perhaps the way it should be today. With 70 acres of manicured gardens, river, lake, elephant enclosures and farm spaces, The Rose Garden Riverside is a celebration of Thailand’s natural bounties. Set anywhere in Thailand, The Rose Garden Riverside would be something special. But to find a property such as this, just a 1-hour drive from Bangkok, is something of a revelation. It’s what makes The Rose Garden the perfect escape from Bangkok. The property’s garden setting is an eclectic mix of influences, almost Hampton Court meets Thai emporium. Along the way, The Rose Garden has become an important asset to Thailand’s botanical followers, preserving many species now rare or unfashionable in the Kingdom.
And where else but The Rose Garden could you find century-old Bullet trees, 80-year-old coconut palms - or 30 species of banana? And for a bit of playfulness, take a look at the “animal lawn”. The luxury of space allows the property to grow its own herbs - used in its restaurants and spa. Coconut milk, an essential ingredient in Thai cooking, is made the traditional way every day, while chilli pastes are ground fresh.
Health at Rose GardenTraditional Thai Living stresses the balance often lacking in today’s stress-filled life. People lived near the water, amid greenery. Their food came straight from the wet markets, and was intense in flavours, yet low in salt, sugar and MSG. Fish, fruits, vegetables and nuts were staples while high-fat food was an extravagance. Thai cooking sought an optimal combination of flavours - in ways that would restore vitality. Vitality was enhanced in other ways too. Thai lifestyles were not sedentary, people worked the land and rivers, spending ample time in the fresh air. They appreciated folk arts like massage and martial arts, which kept their bodies healthy and spirits high. And their lives were centred in the spiritual and the family realms, giving a Thai person a sense of purpose and belonging. The Rose Garden Riverside helps us remember that food doesn‘t grow in a supermarket - and nor are all curatives found in a pharmacy. A tour around the property’s gardens makes you realise how many health-giving remedies grow close at hand.
