Feeling a bit weird last week, I went down to Hua Hin for a relaxing weekend with a friend.
We booked a room at Sundance, a new hotel, located right behind the San Paulo hospital. We booked a room through an agent, but slight error, so we managed to upgrade the room, paid the difference of room rates there, and we couldn't be happier.
Our deluxe room was nice, big, clean and comfortable. Hotel staff were polite, friendly and helpful. Highly recommend. Hotel review can be found here.
We just went down to the beach, had good food, and went to an open-air bar.
On Sunday, before coming back to Bangkok, we went up to Khao Takiab. Fed some monkeys. Had lunch at a restaurant at the bottom of the hill.
Then, we went to Hua Hin Train Station. I didn't realise it was so close to that bleedin' traffic lights. I had always thought it was hidden somewhere. Duh.
Next stop was Mrigadayavan Palace, in Cha-Am.
Look for this sign at the main gate on the main road.
The palace is located 14 kms north of Hua Hin. It was constructed in 1923 under King Rama VI's command to be his summer palace. The palace was built from materials from the dismantled buildings of the old residence at the nearby Chao Samran Beach.
Before getting into the buildings, the staff will advise if you need to dress more appropriately. No shorts, sleeveless shirts, short skirts. And no shoes allowed. For ladies, if you don't dress appropriately, they will lend you a shirt and a sarong. As for shoes, you can leave them at the front, but then you will need to walk back with bare feet on the ground (one-way traffic on the buildings). But you can get some sort of bag so you can take your shoes with you also.
Mrigadayavan was known as the palace of love and hope because when Queen Indrasakdi Sachi was pregnant, King Vajiravudh was extremely hopeful in anticipation of an heir. The king took great care of her throughout her pregnancy. Regrettably, the queen miscarried. King Vajiravudh finally got a daughter, Princess Bejaratana, born to Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana just one day before he passed away.
It was fashioned in Thai-Victorian style with an elevated airy walkway that connects all the rooms in the compound.
The palace was initially designed by King Vajiravudh himself. And the king appointed an Italian architect, Ercole Manfredi, who worked in the Civil Works Department, to put the finishing touches to the design.
High ceilings and fretwork on all walls facilitated good ventilation and made the most of sea breeze. Building the entire construction on stilts ensured that the compound could be easily kept clean. Ants were controlled by niches for water around each concrete pillar and along the walls connecting to the ground. This is a good example of using a simple and non-chemical method to control these annoying creatures. There is a total number of 1,080 concrete pillars.
Mrigadayavan Palace consists of 16 golden teak buildings which are divided into 3 groups. All are linked together throughout the palace by verandas on stilts. Details of each group of buildings are as follows:
1. Samoson Sevakamataya Group of Buildings
This group of buildings is part of the front court where official business was dealt with. Both men and women worked together there. It consists of a pavilion-like theatre, an audience chamber, an office for the Royal Aide-de-Camp General and a room for night duty chamberlains.
Audience Chamber
The apartment of the Grand Chamberlian and Chief Aide-de camp General
The Front Court Dining Pavillion
2. Bisansagara Group of Buildings
This group of buildings was the king's personal residence (no photos allowed). It consists of a Royal Suite which has an office, a bedroom, a dressing room, and a bathroom. Inside the bedroom, there stands a four-post bed with a white canopy. The office, in which King Rama VI loved to sit and compose his poetical works at night, now accommodates only a desk and chair once used by the king. Nearby this group of buildings are lodges for royal pages, next to which is a royal kitchen.
From this group of buildings, at the end of the verandas on stilts, you can see a beach pavilion whose roof supports a cross-like post. The post was not intended as a symbol of any religion. Instead, it was used as an indicator of the king's activities. That is, when the yellow lantern was on, it meant that the king would be ready to grant an audience. And when the green lantern was shown, it was known that the king was not in residence.
Visitors are not allowed to walk down that corridor.
3. Samudabiman Group of Buildings
The Samudabiman group of buildings constitutes the inner court of the palace where men except the king were forbidden to enter. It served as the residence for HM Queen Indrasakdi Sachi (no photos allowed). In the same cluster are buildings for her sister and her entourage, a dining pavilion and a beach pavilion. King Vajiravudh usually had his Thai-style lunch at the dining pavilion in the inner court.
The palace had been neglected since King Rama VI passed away in 1925. It was not until 1965 that King Bhumibol, the present king, ordered the palace to be renovated.
On the way back to the front, there is another building with a few more rooms.
Ironing, Sewing and Darning
Room for female attendants
The palace is open from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm (closed on Wednesdays). Admission fee for adults is 30 THB.
Another place well worth a visit.
More pics from the palace are here.
Source of info on the palace is here.
Very interesting story: A Royal Love Story, Mrigadayavan Palace: A place of love and hope
