3 Fantastic Palaces Majestic Residences

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1. Chatchawan Wiengchai and Wechayan Wichien Prasat 2. Phra Prang Deang

Fantastic Palaces

Majestic Residences The ancient town called “Phetchaburi” dates back to the Khmer and Dvaravati periods. Moreover, this province boasts a bewildering array of sights ranging from national park, forest parks, mountains, beaches, caverns, waterfalls, temples to royal palaces. 3 former kings of the current dynasty, succumbed to its natural charms, each building a palace respectively named Phra Nakhon Khiri, Phra Ram Ratchaniwet, Phra Ratchaniwet Mrigadayawan.

This imposing monument which can be seen from virtually every nook and cranny has eventually become the emblem of Phetchaburi province. Being captivated by the prime location of the “Mount Samon” offering fine vistas of Phetchaburi, King Rama IV or King Mongkut relished the idea of having a summer retreat constructed by his Defence Minister in 1859. This iconic landmark stretches along a verdant hill, covered in frangipani, with a total area of 600 rai (237 acres). Upon completion of his idyllic palace in 1862, the king officially named it “Phra Nakhon Khiri”, but it is more commonly known by the name “Khao Wang” which means “Mountain with a Palace”. Phra Nakhon Khiri is a shining example of how to harmoniously blend different styles of architecture. The palace complex comprises several buildings spreading over 3 peaks in clusters ranging from throne halls, royal residences, temples to pavillions. The mountaintop buildings can be classed as follows: The western peak, the highest one rising to 95 metres, is intended for the royal residences. The largest colonial-style building called “Phra Thinang Phetphum Phairot” was originally the audience hall and became a state house for royal guests later. At present, this throne hall has been converted to a museum housing the king’s

collection of antiquities, royal regalia, fine foreign porcelains and glasswares. Adjacent to this part is a compact 2-storey Chinese-style hall called “Phra Thinang Pramote Mahaisawan”.

Next door stands “Phra Thinang Wechayan Wichien Prasat” which is a Khmer-style five-spire corn-shaped castle where the bronze statue of King Rama IV is enshrined. The round tower with a glass dome-shaped roof and a spiral staircase standing opposite called “Chatchawan Wiang Chai” served as the Royal Observatory for King Rama IV who was a keen astronomer. About halfway to the other end of this hill is the middle peak where is perched a 40-metre bell-shaped chedi called “Phra That Chom Phet”. The old abandoned chedi was so damaged that King Rama IV commisionned extensive renovation and also had the Lord Buddha’s relics enshrined. On the eastern peak of Khao Wang is located the royal temple building

Wat Phra Kaew Noi & Phra Sutthasela Chedi

cluster, consisting of Wat Phra Kaew Noi, Phra Sut¬thasela Chedi, a belfry, a red Khmer-style pagoda. More specifically, this compound was modelled on the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, communicating to the Grand Palace. That is why the king needed to attend all his religious functions on this very spot during his stay at Khao Wang. Along the bese of this hill, there were a theatre for dance drama performed by court ladies, a horse stable, a chariot garage, the kitchen, etc... On the east-facing slope near the foot of Khao Wang stands “Wat Maha Samanaram” which is renowned for tempera mural paintings by “Khrua In Khong”, a monk painter under King Mongkut’s patronage, who was the first Thai to use 3-dimensional perspective technique and preferred to paint realistic gestures. Since 1989, this complex has been made a Historical Park which is accessible on foot and by cable car as well.

Phra Ram Ratchaniwet Palace

Originally called “Ban Puen Palace”, this glamourous western-style palace of King Chulalongkorn the Great or King Rama V is located on the west bank of the Petchaburi River. Subsequent to the monarch’s second official visit to Europe in 1907, from which he probably drew inspiration, he contemplated staying in an alternative retreat where he could feel really at peace during the rainy season. Bearing in mind that the construction ought to be funded out of his own coffers, he look for a city-centre location and finally acquired some pieces of land from common people. To undertake such a royal project, Mr. Karl Siegfried Döhring, a German architect and engineer working with the Ministry of Interior, was charged with designing and overseeing the construction. So it would appear that the ambience of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s castles is likely to pervade this new villa eternally. Phra Ram Ratchaniwet features a two-storey high-ceilinged building whose architectural style is highly influenced by both Jugendstil or German Art Nouveau and Baroque. Due to Döhring’s determination to be tailor-made, none of his works became a faithful reproduction. From afar, the Wang Ban Puen resembles vaguely to a theatre designed by Oskar Kaufmann, who was universally popular in those days. It has a rectangular floor plan, with a steep mansard roof above the front façade and a partially glazed cupola perched on the circular hall attached to the right wing. The interior of the palace looks bright and spacious. The ground floor contains a number of rooms including the dining room and the Throne Hall. The double spiral staircases leading to the second floor are ornately adorned with hugh ceramic cherubs along the banisters. The well-manicured courtyard, said to have housed the first badminton court, features a fountain.

The construction commenced in 1910, but unfortunately King Rama V passed away the same year, before its completion in 1916. The Wang Ban Puen was renamed “Phra Ram Ratchaniwet” by King Rama VI in 1918 to accommodate foreign state visitors. After that, it was utilised for many purposes. Currently it serves as a museum, managed by the 15th Military Circle.

Phra Ratchaniwet Mrigadayavan Palace

This elegant summer residence was erected in 1924 during the reign of King Vajiravudh or King Rama VI, featuring an interlinked series of 16 teak buildings, with tall louvred shutters and patterned fretwork, raised by concrete pillars. At that time, Ercole Manfredi, an Italian architect was entrusted with the challenging task of designing a villa to be as open as possible, maximising air circulation and making the most of the seaside location so that the King Rama VI who had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis 7 years earlier was able to miraculously recover. At the first stage, the construction was made at the Chao Samran Beach and the King went there every summer for 6 consecutive years before experiencing some inconveniences, for instance lack of fresh water and long distance from the train station. Finally, he found a better location in the Cha-am District and had his villa reconstructed on the site called “Huay Sai” which means “hog deer’s stream”. That is the reason why he named his residence in a shady relaxing garden after the deer park in India where the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon.

This palace structure consists of 3 building clusters destined for an audience hall, the men’s quarters and the ladies’ quarters respectively and is aligned parallel to the sea with a long corridor towards bathing pavillions at each end. At present, this palace is located within the grounds of Camp Rama VI under the Border Patrol Police Bureau.