Doi Tung Royal Villa, built in the Lanna and Swiss architectural styles, was the residence of Her late Royal Highness Princess Srinakarindra, the Princess Mother. Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother and her daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, gave the architects a concept of simplicity and multi-functionality for the Royal Villa construction. The construction started on December 26, 1987 with a traditional northern Thai ceremony (called "Pok Sao Huen") of planting the main house pillar. The Princess Mother first took up residence at the Doi Tung Royal Villa on November 23, 1988.
The Royal Villa was originally built on the theory that the local hill tribes would be honored by the royal presence and thereby cease their opiumcultivation. It was built with Princess Mother's private funds. And she considered it her first real home in Thailand. The Princess Mother also made it known that without the Doi Tung Development Project, she would not have built a house in the area. She only stayed because she could reforest the land and help to improve the lives of the local people.
nitially, the Royal Forest Department planned to present the land for the construction of the Royal Villa to the Princess Mother. However, she refused their offer, on the grounds that she was not more privileged than any Thai who had no right to own land in a forest preserve. Therefore, the Royal Villa was leased out to the Foundation for 30 years, the same period as the project's time frame.