Opium at the Golden Triangle Park :

Journey to a world of mystery

Ramani Kangaraarachchi in Chiang Rai

Although opium has created problems in many countries, the Doitung project in Thailand has educated the public in its ill effects and popularized the tourist industry.

The Golden Triangle evoke images of opium poppies of hill tribes, mighty Mekong river. and the mystery and danger surrounding drug production, trafficking, route of corruption from Asia to Africa.

Entrance to the Hall of Opium

The Hall of Opium is ten kilometres north of Chiang Saen in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand where opium was grown, processed, and smuggled out. Every year hundreds of thousands tourists come to visit this place simply because its association with opium. The museum incorporates the exhibition and information centre within the 160 rai or 40 hectare land scape of the Golden Triangle Park.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand joined the Mae Fah Luang Foundation in preparing the Golden Triangle Park and the Opium Museum. In the early 90s opium has been the cash crop for the people in the northwest part of Thailand and Myanmar which had a huge demand in the international market.

However, in 1988 the Princess mother Srinagarindra, the mother of the present King of Thailand initiated the Doi Tung Development Project to eradicate opium cultivation and suppress the supply of opium in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.

The Hall of Opium is an important first step in this effort and when Doi Tung became widely recognized as one of the most successful sustainable alternative development projects in the world, the Queen mother wanted to educate people on the history of opium in the hope this would help their commitment against illegal drugs. The result is the Hall of Opium at the Golden Triangle Park.

The Hall of Opium aims to broaden the understanding of the history, dangers, and severe ramifications of illegal drug related activities, through educational entertainment. The program at the Hall of Opium aims to put a human face on the tragic affects of drug abuse and addiction, thereby bringing into the hearts and souls of the public the sad implications of still more of man’s inhumanity to man.

Visitors to this Hall of Opium are taken through an entertaining mix of multimedia, the 5,600 square metre permanent exhibition is comprised with fifteen sections.

The exhibition begins with a walk through a 137 metre entrance tunnel to create an atmosphere of the contradictory moods associate with opium and narcotics, mystery, danger fear, sleep dreams, ease of pain or suppressed suffering.

A golden triangle marks the tunnel exit, leading to a bright airy lobby. Across a small valley a scenic view of a small poppy field similar to those planted by some hill tribes in the region is seen. The first section of the exhibition provide a general introduction to the opium poppy, its products and the history of its use from earlier evidence at least 5000 years ago.

Then the visitors pass through a short dark and bright hall way ,in which the contrasting characteristics of opium are presented. On the side a plant with products of great benefit to humans, and on the other side a plant that can cause considerable suffering.

The next section describe the development of large scale production, trade and use of opium in the 18 and 19 centuries culminating with the opium wars between China and Britain.

On the other side an increasingly corrupt, rigid and weak Manchu regime attempted to maintain its control over a widespread empire. The next large section presents the history of legal opium in Siam.

The effects of illegal drugs and international efforts to control narcotics, why did the nations of the world decide to control narcotics, how are illegal drugs and wars linked are also explained during the visit.