Maruekhathaiyawan Palace

[Big Boy]

Maruekhathaiyawan Palace off Petchkasem Road between Hua Hin and Cha-Am is one of my favourite attractions in the area. However, whenever I been, I rarely see white (European/American) visitors. IMHO this is a fantastic piece of local history in a very serene setting.

I see photographs of the palace on the sides of tuk tuks and taxis, yet I rarely see a tuk tuk or taxi in the car park.

I just wonder how many of you use the Palace, and how many of you have it on your tourist route when you're entertaining visitors.

[Winkie]

I've been a few times, always with visitors from overseas.

It's a pleasant look back in time, and free if I recall.

I particularly like the Royal Toilet, very ingenious! Always makes me chuckle

[Terry]

Fabulous place - well worth a visit and a great place to chill out

[Big Boy]

free if I recall.

Not any more. However, it's just 30 Baht for the grounds and Palace ground floor. It's 60 Baht if you include the Palace first floor. Children are half price. Excellent value for money. Rven somebody doesn't like it, they haven't lost much.

[STEVE G]

Yes, it's an impressive place and one of the best attractions in the area. It shows how people with unlimited wealth could live in cool surroundings without air-conditioning as the whole Palace is basically open to the sea breezes.
One interesting fact is that every one of those 1,000 odd pillars that it stands on has a tiny moat around the base of it and a servant used to go around topping them up to keep out ants.

[Big Boy]

One interesting fact is that every one of those 1,000 odd pillars that it stands on has a tiny moat around the base of it and a servant used to go around topping them up to keep out ants.

That is interesting, but alas the renovation has destroyed that bit if history. The ground floor is now a series of concrete walkways, through which the pillars grow.

[STEVE G]

One interesting fact is that every one of those 1,000 odd pillars that it stands on has a tiny moat around the base of it and a servant used to go around topping them up to keep out ants.

That is interesting, but alas the renovation has destroyed that bit if history. The ground floor is now a series of concrete walkways, through which the pillars grow.

They were still there last time I went a couple of years ago, it's just a small recess around the pillar near the base, you wouldn't notice it normally but I remember reading a card pointing out what it was. I think I took a photo and I'll have a look if I have it on my computer tonight when I get home.

[Big Boy]

It'd be nice to see, because th concrete slabs have been laid this year With all of that wood, it must have been a pig to maintain. Most if not all of the supporting pillars also look like concrete now.

Maybe they're turning it into another 'plastic' attraction.

[STEVE G]

Most if not all of the supporting pillars also look like concrete now.

Those are original, or at least authentic, BB. It was built in the 1920's after the railway was completed and with some Westerners involved in the construction, I remember reading that it was built on more than a 1,000 concrete pillars.