Phra Nakhon Khiri . Palace

The palace consists of three groups of buildings on the western, middle and eastern peaks. The western hill contains the royal residential complex and overlooks the surrounding hills and Phetchaburi town. The eastern hill houses Wat Maha Samanaram and Wat Phra Kaeo, similar to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok. Walking among the hills is a very wonderful activity. The hill in the middle has a large stupa called Phra That Chom Phet, which is said to house the relics of the Buddha.

130 kilometers south of Bangkok in the town of Petchaburi and just under an hour from Hua Hin, Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park dominates the area. Atop a hill nearly 100 meters high, Phra Nakhon Khiri overlooks the area and can be seen in the distance approaching the city.

King Mongkut (Rama IV) loved the area so much that he decided to build a Summer Palace here to use as a royal retreat when visiting the area. The palace named Phra Nakhon Khiri, also known as Khao Wang which means mountain with Palace, was completed in 1860.

In 1979, the Palace was declared a historical park, where the Ministry of Fine Arts had exhibitions displaying the personal belongings of King Rama IV and King Rama V, including some foreign ceramics.

The historic park includes Palaces, Temples, Royal Halls, pagodas, stupas and other buildings and spans three hilltops. Some buildings are in classical Thai style, while others are heavily influenced by European or Chinese neoclassical styles.

The historic park is actually spread over three mountain peaks, the western peak is home to the Royal Palace and museum. If you take the cable car to the top, you will reach the West Peak. From here it is an easy walk to the other two peaks. The palace of King Mongkut is located on the top of the western mountain. One of the most important structures here is the Phra Thi Nang Phet Phum Phairot Throne Hall, which is the largest structure of the Palace.

The king also has his personal living quarters in this building, such as a bedroom, a dining room and a dressing room. The rooms and personal belongings of the Royal Family in them give a great impression of the way the Thai Royal Family lived back then.

Another important building is the Phra Thi Nang Pramot Mahaisawan, which is said to have been used as the Royal Queens administrator. Phra Thi Nang Wetchayan Prasat is used for worship, and takes the form of a prang, a building style originally used in Khmer architecture of Cambodian origin.

Ho Chatchawan Wiang Chai is a tower used by King Mongkut as an observatory. The king was very interested in science, innovation and astronomy and was called the "Father of Thai Science". In addition to these structures, there were a number of smaller buildings used as stables, residences for guards and servants, and kitchens. The palace is guarded by a fortress at each corner of the complex.

The Central Peak has a 40 meter high white stupa called Phra That Chom Phet. This stupa is said to contain relics of the Buddha. This peak is a great place to see the Royal Palaces on the West Peak and Wat Phra Kaew Temple on the East Peak.

The eastern peak is where the Wat Phra Kaew temple is located. It was built in the same style, but smaller, as the Wat Phra Kaew in the Grand Palace in Bangkok (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and thus in the classical Thai architectural style. The huge red temple, Chedi Deang, is very recognizable and can be seen from a distance.

To get to the top of the mountain, visitors can use the cable car service for 40 Baht for a round trip. Hiking to the top is another option; However, walking in the heat in Thailand is not a pleasant experience. Along the way, you will probably see some monkeys living in the hills. Be careful when presenting food, as they are quite cheeky and may try to get food.

Phra Nakhon Khiri Palace is located on top of a hill in Phetchaburi town. You can visit the palace as a day trip from Bangkok or Hua Hin. Private air-conditioned taxi is the most convenient and fastest way. Most hotels will be able to book the trip for you. Should book round-trip tickets, remember to negotiate the price before going.

Train service from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong station to Petchaburi takes about two and a half to three hours. To get there early, the 8:05am to 10:40am train will be your best bet. From the train station, you can take a local bus or a taxi.

From Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal in Thonburi, you can catch an air-conditioned bus to Petchaburi, which takes about two and a half hours.

Opening hours: daily, from 08:30 to 16:30

Ticket price: 150 Bath/pax