Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park, Royal palace complex on Khao Wang hill in Phetchaburi, Thailand
Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park is a protected historic site atop Khao Wang hill in Phetchaburi, Thailand. The grounds include palaces, temples, and observation buildings spread across three peaks and linked by stairways and paths.
King Rama IV established the site in the 1850s as a summer residence and scientific observatory. The construction combined traditional royal functions with the king's personal interest in astronomy and Western science.
Locals often call the entire site Khao Wang, which simply means palace hill and links the place directly to its geographic setting. The name remains deeply connected to Phetchaburi's identity as a former royal retreat and continues to hold a respectful meaning for visitors and residents alike.
The stairway takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes to climb, while the cable tram shortens the route and suits older visitors or families with children. Most of the grounds are outdoors and call for sturdy footwear and plenty of water on hot days.
The observatory in the park was built because Rama IV wanted to calculate the 1868 solar eclipse precisely and invited European astronomers to Siam to observe the event. His successful prediction impressed Western scientists and showed Thailand's openness to modern research during a time of great social change.
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