Phra Nakhon Kiri was the summer palace of the royal family constructed on a 95 metre hill in 1858 by King Rama IV (King Mongkut). Located close to Phetchaburi, it is locally known as Khao Wang and is the dominant feature of the city. The palace was decorated with a combination of European, Chinese and Thai art styles. The mountain is divided into three parts and tourists have the opportunity o visit all three:
1) The Western Peak.....site of the palace and associated buildings. All the structures on this peak assume elegant names conferred on them by King Rama IV. The names are a reminder of their particular functions. On this peak is the Phra Nakhon Khiri National Museum. Ancient art objects once decorated various buildings at Phra Nakhon Khiri and are now conserved in this museum which occupies the two buildings of Phra Thinang Phetphum Phairot and Phra Thinang Pramot Mahaisawan.
2) The Eastern Peak.....site of the royal temple.. King Rama IV ordered his architects to construct he temple in the palace compound on Phra Nakorn Khiri in the same fashion as the building of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace, Bangkok. When the temple was completed he named it Wat Phra Kaew.
3) The Central Peak.....site of the chedi. On this peak of Maha Sawan mountain there had been a much decorated chedi belonging to Wat Inthakhiri. King Mongkut renovated the chedi by covering it with a new one. He deposited the relics of the Buddha in the chedi and conferred upon it a new and elegant name, Phra That Chom Phet.