Phetchaburi
Old Royal City; The Hilltop Palace Of Phra Nakhon Khiri (1859); Gateway To The UNESCO Listed Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (2021) · Phetchaburi, Phetchaburi
Phetchaburi, often shortened to Phetburi, is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, a provincial town about 2 to 3 hours south of Bangkok that has been an important centre since the Ayutthaya period and a favourite retreat of kings. Its landmark is Phra Nakhon Khiri, the palace that King Mongkut built in 1859 on the three peaks of Khao Wang, the palace hill, with a throne hall, an observatory, a chedi and a temple linked by paths among frangipani trees and troops of macaques, reached on foot or by a small cable tram. Below, the town has more temples than most cities of its size, including the five white prangs of Wat Mahathat and the Ayutthaya-era murals and teak hall of Wat Yai Suwannaram, old wooden shophouses along the river and a famous tradition of desserts made with palm sugar. Just outside town the cave of Tham Khao Luang is lit by shafts of sunlight falling on rows of Buddha images. The province also takes in the Kaeng Krachan forest, UNESCO-listed in 2021, and the beach and summer palace at Cha-am.
Phra Nakhon Khiri (Khao Wang), Khlong Krachaeng, Phetchaburi, Phetchaburi, 76000, Thailand
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The typical pattern: Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park on Khao Wang has opened every day from about 8.30 am to 4.30 pm for the palace museum, with the grounds and paths open a little longer, and the cable tram running roughly 8.30 am to 5 pm, with occasional closures for maintenance; Tham Khao Luang is open from about 8 am to 5 pm; town temples from early morning to about 5 pm; Phra Ram Ratchaniwet has opened on limited days with irregular closures; Maruekhathaiyawan palace usually has a weekly closing day, often Wednesday; check. The traps that ruin a day are losing bags or phones to the Khao Wang macaques, visiting the cave on a cloudy day or at the wrong hour, finding the tram or Ban Puen palace closed, and arriving at Kaeng Krachan during the rainy-season road closure. Confirm current times before relying on them.