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Graciously built beside Hua Hin Beach by King Prajadhipok,
Rama7, Wang Klai Kang Won served as an alternative summer palace for His
Majesty and Queen Rampai Phanee. Designed with a European architectural
feel, the original name was "Suan Klai Kang Won" and "Phra Tamnak Piamsuk",
meaning "The Garden Far From Worries" and "The Royal Residence Full of
Happiness".
Besides the royal residence and beautifully manicured ornamental gardens
full of kinds of plants and objects d'art from Java, one must also be sure
to see the beautiful collection of shells in the shell museum. King
Prajadhipok (King Rama VII) built the Klai Kangwon Palace at Hua Hin as a
summer home for Queen Rambai Barni. The palace was designed by Prince
Iddhidehsarn Kridakara, an architect and the Director of the Fine Arts
Department, and officially opened in 1929.
Originally, Klai Kangwon comprised three mansions, each facing the sea.
The two-storey buildings housed the royals, while smaller houses in the
vicinity were for the entourage. The architecture of the palace is basically
Spanish, designed to admit the cooling sea breezes.
A formal garden in front of the mansions has stone sculptures from Bali,
sundials, nautical instruments, lamps and other ornaments. A section is
given over to topiary-bushes sculpted and trained into interesting shapes.
Their Majesties the King and Queen still stay at Klai Kangwon Palace when
on trips to Prachuab Khiri Khan and surrounding areas.
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