A ROMANTIC VISIT TO THE PALACE OF LOVE AND HOPE

This HALF DAY TOUR will bring you to a “must see” during a stay in HUA HIN. The Maruekatayawan Palace, located next to HUA HIN was built in 1923 under the King Wojirawudh (Rama VI), as a summer relaxing residence. The railway passing along the coast contributed to the development of the peninsula and it was logical that a place as HUA HIN hosted a summer royal residences. King Mongkut (Rama IV) had already built up earlier a Summer Royal Residence on a hill dominating Petchburi and overlooking the sea. If the King Wojirawudh drafted the building himself, it was designed in details by Ercole Manfredi, a prolific Italian architect who also participated to the realization of the Ananda Throne Hall and the House of Parliament, both located in Bangkok. This unique teak wooden palace, known as the Palace of ‘Love and Hope’ is the longest teak wooden existing construction on earth. It stretches itself up to the beach front and is divided in three clusters of two-storey pavilions linked by halls, verandas and covered walkways. Pavilions sheltered royal sitting or relaxing rooms as well as it hosted royal consort members, and it even features one meeting room where classical theatre was performed. Nowadays it offers visitors insight into intimacy of King Wokirawudh and Queen Indrasakdi. One can also appreciate how life was in that time, in a construction which high ceiling and fretwork on walls facilitated ventilation. The compound also features a net of walkway twisting in a mangrove forest edging the sea. This palace is certainly an attraction not to miss, whilst spending a stay in HuaHin.