Mrigadayavan Palace

( The Palace of love and hope )

Mrigadayavan Palace is located on Bang Kra beach between Cha am and Hua hin. Completed in 1924, this summer palace was built by King Rama VI as a summer getaway.

399 metres long, supported by 1,080 concrete pillars, there are 16 buildings of golden teak, in Thai-Victorian style, all connected by elevated airy walkways designed to catch the breezes from all directions.

The palace is divided into 3 usage areas. The first as you enter is the audience hall for business and entertainment, then you enter the men's quarters, including the King's personal rooms, and finally the ladies quarters. Unfortunately no photographs are allowed in both the Kings and Queens personal rooms.

Two very long corridors lead off from the main building to two beach pavilions, one for the King and one for the ladies. The King's pavilion has a large cross on the top, used to signal the King's activities by the use of coloured lanterns.

Another small building at the rear of the palace shows life in the serving quarters.

see more photographs from Mrigadayavan palace

Mrigadayavan Palace is open every day, except Wednesdays, from 08.30 until 16.30. Entrance to the palace costs 30 Baht for both Thais and foreigners.

A guide book ( in both Thai and English ) is available at the entrance shop for 50 baht.

Bicycles can be rented for 20 Baht next to the car park to explore the grounds outside the palace further. There is also a nature trail through a replanted mangrove swamp with wooden walkways, a bird spotting tower, a statue of Rama VI and another smaller teak house, the Chao Phraya Ramrakop residence. View video of the Palace

Dress restrictions apply - so no shorts, short skirts or totally sleeveless T-shirts are allowed. Sarongs and T-shirts are available for those who turn up wearing any of the above just before you enter the building. Also no shoes are allowed to be worn, but you are given a bag to carry them around with you, so you can put them on again when exiting the building at the other end.

Directions - how to get there.

To get to the Palace itself, you have to enter the military camp, so first you have to go to the guard post ( for some reason , if you are on a motorbike, you have to get off and walk past the guards, both when entering and exiting ) then just follow this road for a couple of km until you get to the car park, where the entrance to the palace is.

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