Phra Nakhon Khiri, or commonly known as Khao Wang , means the celestial city on the mountain. This magnificent site built in the reign of King Rama IV (King Mongkut) is found at Khlong Krachaeng sub – district, Muang district, Phetchaburi province, has now become the most important tourist attraction of the province. In fact this monumental site is the first palace complex built on a mountain with magnificent palace structures and religious buildings beautifully fit into the natural surroundings of woods, rocks and caverns. The whole complex forms a fantastic panorama. At present, the foot of the mountain houses commercial centers which have now become an important commercial circle of the province. The mountain which holds Phra Nakhon Khiri rises 95 meters above the sea – level, and has three prominent peaks. It was formerly called Khao Samana, because there was a wat called Samana on the eastern slope. In 1858 during the reign of King Rama IV, the mountain came to assume an official name of Khao Maha Samana. Three years later in 1861, the king went to Wat Maha Samana on the mountain to meditate in solitude. Naturally the mountain was given an elegant name of Maha Sawan conferred upon by the king, meaing the great heavenly abode. On the western peak of the mountain once there was Wat Inthakhiri that later on moved to the foot of the mountain and is called Wat Tham Kaeo at present. King Rama IV ascended the throne in 1851, and then seven years later in 1858 he began the project of constructing the palace complex with the royal chapel on the mountain, which he named Phra Nakhon Khiri. He appointed his Defence Minister Phraya Si Suriyawong (Chunang Bunnak) as the project director. He was later promoted to a higher title of Somdet Chao Phray Borom Maha Si Suriyawong. The Director of the construction was Phra Phetchara Phisai Si Sawat (Thuam Bunnak). He went to England in 1857 as a member of Thai diplomatic mission. His title then was Chamun Rachamat. When he returned after accomplishing the mission successful, he was promoted to Phraya Thep Prachum and was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Defence. In the subsequent reign of King Rama V (King Chulalongkorn) he was further promoted to Chao Phraya Bhanuwong Maha Kosa Bodi. Krom Phra Narathip, a prominent poet during the reign of King Rama VI, described in verses the wonderful construction of Phra Nakhon Khiri as follows, included in his anthology entitled “Maha Makut Ratchakumanusorn” :
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