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Phetchaburis well-known landmark, the locally known
as Khao Wang (Palace Hill) is located up on a 92-meter high verdant
hill, in the city of Phetchaburi. It was built under the royal command
of King Rama IV and in 1860 became his summer palace. The whole
compound is comprised of royal halls, palaces, temples and other
buildings which were elegantly constructed in a well-balanced Thai,
neoclassical Western and Chinese architectural styles.
There are a group of royal residences on the
western side of the hill consisting of the Phetchphoomphairot Building,
Pramotmahaisawan Building, Wetchayanwichienprasat Building,
Ratchathammasapha Building and Hor Chatchawanwiengchai Observatory.
The original main residence, Phetchphoomphairot
and Pramotmahaisawan Buildings are now being used as a museum
exhibiting the royal paraphernalia of King Rama IV and King Rama V,
decorative sculptures, and ceramics from China, Japan and Europe.
The big white pagoda situated on the middle peak
of the hill is Phrathat Jomphet. King Rama IV ordered the renovation of
the old pagoda and later added a Buddha image inside. Visitors to the
Palace should not miss the panoramic view of Phetchaburi City and other
buildings on another two nearby mountaintops.
There are several temples to be admired on the
Eastern Mountain, one of which is Wat Maha Samanaram, which has a
history that can be traced back to the Ayutthaya period and the place
where murals by Khrua In Khong, a renowned Thai artist is located.
Another temple located on top of the mountain is Wat Phra Kaew Noi, the
Royal Temple of Phra Nakhon Khiri that was constructed based on the
model of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
The Ordination Hall and Phra Sutthasela Chedi
are also popular attractions. The ordination hall is a small
beautifully symmetrical structure that is noted for the stucco at the
gables, which is said to be a Phetchaburi masterpiece. In addition, the
design of the Hall was based on King Rama IV's royal emblem. Phra
Sutthasela Chedi was built from greenish gray marble. The marble was
first sculptured into pieces to form a pagoda at Ko Srichang, an island
off the coast of Pattaya on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand,
then it was dismantled and resembled at the Chedi which is on the
western coast of the Gulf of Thailand.
Getting to Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park
The site is located on Phetkasem Road, just one
kilometer from the town entrance junction. It is possible to climb the
mountain by walking or by cable car.
Walking up is a strenuous activity but it is the
traditional way to approach the Park. For those choosing the cable car
option, the fare, which inclusive of the museum admission fee is 50
baht for adults and 30 baht for children. Service is provided from 8:15
a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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