Sometimes charmingly referred to as the ‘palace of love and hope’ the second royal retreat in Hua Hin Maruekhathaiyawan Palace built in 1923 by king Rama VI was constructed completely in golden teak taken from the Hat Chao Samran Palace which was demolished for the purpose. Said to be the longest golden teak wood building in the world, this Victorian style beach palace comprises of three one storey pavilions atop 1000 wooden pillars. Its location right on the beach provided the royals with an ideal summer residence with access to perfect white sandy beaches and warm calm oceans.
Designed by an Italian architect the structure appears light and airy. The high ceilinged halls and open pavilions are linked by verandahs with lattice work walls which are now painted in delicate hues of blue and beige, contrasting with the bright red roofs of the buildings. Two covered board walks with a bathing pavilion at the end provided access to the beach and sea and served as changing rooms.
In its heyday each palace building had a clearly defined purpose. Samoson Sawakamat hall was the largest, grandest and most important space as it was the main reception hall and doubled as a ballroom and theatre. The king had a suite of rooms in the centre, the best part of the building comprising of a bed room, bathroom and study with gorgeous sea views and with easy access to other parts of the building. The queen and the concubines were relegated to the southernmost wing along with the library. A set of rooms to the north were assigned to the royal attendants.
The palace was renovated and opened to the public as a museum with royal artifacts and vintage photographs. Visitors are required to remove shoes on entering to protect the rare teakwood floors. An extensive landscaped garden sloping towards Cha Am beach sets off the palace complex to great advantage.
Relax in the comfort of spacious and luxurious Thai inspired stylish accommodation at Anantara Hua Hin Thailand Resort. Enjoy a typical beach vacation basking in the sun and trying out all the water sports in the calm waters of the Gulf of Thailand. For memorable holiday experiences take advantage of the superb amenities and facilities and onsite activities on offer at one of the prominent Hua Hin hotels and enjoy a one of a kind vacation that can only be provided at this one of the key Hua Hin resorts.
