Hua Hin, is a beach-resort town that sits in the northern part of the Malay peninsula of Thailand. The locale has many appealing factors to it, where visitors can indulge in activities ranging from kit-boarding and martial arts to massages and golf. Hua Hin is most noteworthy for a certain piece of architecture that blends the concept of royal Thai buildings with Victorian factors to create a truly stunning edifice. You may be thinking this might be a palace, or a luxury hotel of some sort, but the structure that is concerned here is a railway station.
The Hua Hin railway station was built in the early 1900s, by Prince PurachatraJayakara, during the reign of King Rama VI. During the time of its construction, travel to the town of Hua Hin was difficult, and passage by train was an exciting new development, and a welcome alternative to travelling by boat, which was the only other option available at the time. The railway station itself had an undeniable aura of excitement, and the town of Hua Hin gradually grew around it. One of the few attractions in Hua Hin at the time, excluding the railway station, was the town’s first luxury hotel, The Hua Hin Hotel Siam. Nowadays, Hua Hin has many such luxury hotels, with notable examples such as the Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa. A the time, Hua Hin was a quiet seaside town that contained the iconic railway station, the luxury hotel, two royal palaces and a fairly humble nine-hole golf course.
The Hua Hin Railway station today is one of the town’s biggest tourist attractions since its striking East-meets-West design makes it stand apart from the modern hotels and malls that have become commonplace. Through a single visit one can relive the splendor of Hua Hin’s past by visiting the railway station, and the nearby palace, fashioned in a similar style with open verandahs, sheltered boardwalks, and intricate fretwork.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.