Hua Hin is the oldest beach resort in the Kingdom of Thailand. Hua Hin has been transformed from a fishing village in a fashionable beach resort in the 1920’s with the construction of the Hua Hin railway station here in the reign of King Rama VI (1910-1925) and the Klai Kangwon summer palace during the reign of King Rama VII in 1926.
The Thai Royal Family still frequently uses the summer palace in Hua Hin. The palace is not open to the public. However the park in front of the palace can be visited by the tourist. If you would like to visit the park you must make sure that your have fully covered shoes and long trousers. You will also need to show ID with a photo.
In 1924 Thailand’s first golf course opened, the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course. Located next to the the Hua Hin station, the golf club still remains as popular as ever.
The Maruekatayawan Palace was constructed by His Majesty King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1923 as a place where he could fully relax in great comfort. Built on the original site of the deer-hunting party for The Grand Duke of Russia, King Rama VI declared the vicinity off -limits to all kinds of hunting after building the palace. This palace is a set of three teak pavilions facing the sea standing way out into the beach front. The pavilions constructed three meters above ground were linked by covered wooden walkways. The king refered to the palace as ” a place of love and hope”. Very fine woodwork adorned the whole palace. The beach front of the palace is shady with ancient casuarina threes, which provide a serene place for relaxing.
The beautiful, colonial style Railway Hotel (known now as Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort) was built near Hua Hin‘s famous rocks in 1923 by the State Railway Authority. By the 1960 s it had fallen into disrepair, but a s sensitive restoration of the elegant 1920s’ decor, museum tea room, and intricate topiaries won it an Outstanding Conservation Award from the Architects’ Association of Thailand in 1993. Before its refurbishment the hotel and its environs were used extensively in the making of the film “The Killing Fields”, where it stood in for the Phnom Penh Hotel. The Sofitel admirably manages to preserve one of Hua Hin‘s popular classic landmarks – the 80 years old topiary elephant astriding the hotel’s driveway now shaped like a cute baby elephant.
Few km on the beach south of Hua Hin lies the Khao Takiab hill with Buddhist shrines atop. A stairway leads to the top, which is about five storey high. From the top, the overall view of Hua Hin beach and the surrounding area can be seen in a fascinating panorama. One way of reaching Khao Takiab is on a pony-for-hire from the main beachfront and amblesouthwards along the wide open beach. The way will lead pass old stately villas, swanky resort hotels and private condos presenting an interesting variety of architectural styles the succeeding golden eras of Hua Hin.
All these past developments have set the stage for Hua Hin‘s popularity and unique ambiance, which remains to this day.
