Phra Nakhon Khiri ( th, อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์พระนครคีรี) is a historical park in

Phetchaburi Phetchaburi ( th, เพชรบุรี, ) or Phet Buri () is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in southern Thailand, capital of Phetchaburi Province. In Thai, Phetchaburi means "city of diamonds" (''buri'' meaning "city" in Sanskrit). It is approx ...

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

on a hill overlooking the city. The name ''Phra Nakhon Khiri'' means 'holy city hill', but locals know it better as ''Khao Wang'', meaning 'hill with palace'. The park consists of three building groups on the three peaks of the 95 m hill. On the western peak is the

palace A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...

with adjoining structures. On the middle or central peak is a big chedi named ''Phra That Chom Phet''. The eastern peak houses the ''Wat Phra Kaeo'', the royal

temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

, built in similar fashion to the ''Wat Phra Kaeo'' in

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...

. The whole complex was built as a summer palace by King

Mongkut Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibod ...

, with construction finished in 1860. The site was registered as a historical park on 27 August 1979, with two of the palace buildings now housing a branch of the Thai National Museum.

Gallery

File:Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park 02.JPG File:Khao Wang 003.JPG File:Phra Nakhon Khiri 0143.JPG File:Phra Nakhon Khiri (Petchaburi)-001.jpg File:Phra Nakhon Khiri (Petchaburi)-005.jpg File:Phra Nakhon Khiri historical park 03.JPG,

Funicular A funicular (, , ) is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to opposite en ...

to the top of Khao Wang File:Phra-Nakhon-Khiri (Khao-Wang), Phetchaburi.jpg, Khao Wang and Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park at night

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park Geography of Phetchaburi province Historical parks of Thailand Buildings and structures in Phetchaburi province Tourist attractions in Phetchaburi province Hills of Thailand