Mrigadayavan Palace, Royal palace in Cha-am, Thailand
Mrigadayavan Palace is a royal summer residence in Cha-am built entirely of golden teak and raised on stilts, with 16 separate pavilions linked by covered corridors. Each structure opens onto wide verandas facing the Gulf of Thailand, and tall windows allow sea breezes to flow through the interiors.
King Rama VI commissioned the palace in 1923 as a seaside retreat where he could rest and write, working with German architect Ering to combine local building methods with modern planning. The complex saw little use after the king's death in 1925 and was later restored for visitors.
The name of the residence means 'Garden of the Deer' and reflects the king's wish for a quiet refuge surrounded by nature. Today the rooms preserve the original furnishings and show how the royal family lived during their stays by the sea.
The grounds open daily in the morning and close in the afternoon, with a higher entrance fee for international visitors than for locals. Rooms are accessible for touring, though photography is restricted in some areas.
One building served as the king's personal writing studio, and the room still holds his desk and shelves of books he kept for his literary work. A private walkway once extended from the palace directly to the sea, allowing the royal family to swim without being observed.
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