King Rama IV took Buddhist recluse at Tham Khao Yoi several times and stayed overnights at Wat Maha Samanaram at the foot of Khao Wang. After he took the throne, he had the first new palace built in Phetchaburi in 1859, on the top of Khao Khiri or Khao Maha Nakhon Khiri Palace”. The hill was renamed “Khao Mahasawan” the great paradise but has been commonly called Khao Wang by the locals.  

Khao Wang is a range of low hills with 3 big peaks, the highest is 95 metres. When the king Rama IV had the palace built on the western peak, he also had a new white stupa built to shelter the old chedi on the middle peak. The new chedi enshrining the relic was called Phra That Chomphet. He also bilt Wat Kaeo to the New palace’s temple on the eastern peak. The stucco pattern on the chapel’s gable was the Royal Crown, the emblem of King Rama IV. Behind the chapel, there is a marble stupa in greenish gray colour 4/12 wah tall, foundation 6 cubits wide. Its unique construction is being sculptured at Ko Sichang and brought to be erected here.

The buildings on Khao Wang were constructed in western style which had just come in fashion for the court at the time and also in Chinese style which had been fashionable since King Rama III. The palace is admirably unique monument of that period.

This is the biggest building consisting of a throne hall, the royal bed chamber, dressing room and dining room.  

Pramot Mahaisawan Hall

The two-storeyed building in Chinese style is believed to have been the Queen’s living quarters.  The upper level consists of a hall, royal bed chamber and dressing room.

It is presently used as the exhibition building of the Phra Nakhon Khiri National Museam, displaying the two king’s royal utensils while staying at this summer residence.

Watchayan Wichian Maha Prasat

Built following the old precept that a prasat must be included in every big palce, this prasat was built to enshrine the status of King Rama IV. His Royal Highness Krom Phraya Naritsara-nuwattiwong judged that it was the work of Luang Theprochana the famous royal sculptor of that time.

The hall in mixture of Thai, Chinese and Western style was used by King Rama IV as the Dharma discoursing room.

Chatchawan Wiang Chai Tower

The two-storeyed tower in cylinder shape with a glass dome was used s the observatory due to King Rama IV’s interest in astronomy. The locals then preferred to call it Krachom Kaeo because the light through the glass dome well served as the landmark to guide fishermen safely dialing in Ao Ban Laem.

Santhkhan Sathan Hall

This is a big group of buildings that were used to receive foreign visitors. Royal artistic performances were viewed from the palace’s extended front balcony.

Visitors can reach the top of Khao Wang by cable car and on foot. Walking up takes about 1 hour along the pleasant walkway under the shady frangipani.

Phra Ram Ratchaniwet (Ban Puen Palace)

King Rama IV had it built at Ban Puen village by the river of Phetchaburi in 1910, the very last year of his reign, to be his retreat in the rainy season. It was a model of the summer palace of Keiser Whilhelm of Germany. Mr. Carl Dohring, the German architect who had designed Bang Khun Phrom Palace, was assigned to supervise the construction which was in Jugendstil style, a mixture between the Baroque and Art Nouveau.

The palace was completed in 1981 in the reign of King Rama VI who named it Phra Ram Ratchniwet. It was later used as the lodging for foreign visiting dignitaries. The palace is just a big 2-storeyed building with a high roof in a dome shape called Sanphet Prasat. A garden and fountain pond is surrounded by the mansion compound. The interior design focused on grandness and luxury. The dinning room’s walls had ceramics finish. The yellow tiles embossed with pictures of animals and plants, were framed with smaller green ceramic tiles. The door’s opening was decorated with wrought iron in Art Nouveau style. The columns in the bed rooms were faced with shiny gold coloured embossed metal sheets.  

Phra Ratchaniwet Maruekkhathaiyawan Palace

King Rama V, or King Mongkutklao had it designed by and Italian architect and built at the beach in Tambon Haui Sai Nuea, Amphoe Cha-am, to be his summer palace. The area was then abundant with wildlife especially deer, thus resulting in such a name of this palace which means “Deer Garden”. The palace consists of 3 important buildings.  

Samoson Sewakamat hall

The 2-storeed wooden rectangular hall was used for holding meetings, social functions and performances. The ground floor is a broad hall and the top floor is all encircled by a veranda.

Presently, the National Police Bureau has graciously received the royal permission to use part of the palace’s area to be its Border Patrol Police Traning Center. Visitors can visit the palace through the entrance of Phra Rama VI Military Camp on Phet Kasem Road about 20 kilometers before Hua Hin  

Samut Phiman Hall  

This was the living department of Queen Indrasaksachi and the quarters of the inner court. There are stairways going down to the beach and the sea-front pavilions running parallel with part of Samut Phiman Hall.

Phisan Sakhon Hall

This living quarters of the king consists of a bathroom, royal bed chamber and study room. The front of the building has a long walkway towards the beach and a pavilion for bathing suit changing.

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