HISTORY

Heritage

Chantaka Puranananda's grandfather, His Royal Highness Prince Rangsit Prayurasakdi, Prince of Jainad, acquired his property in Khao Tao, twelve kilometers from Hua-Hin, to make a summer home for his family in 1912. He arranged a special train to take him, his family and guests from Hua-Hin, where many of his cousins and friends had already established vacation residences, to the beautiful beach of Khao Tao with it's unique sand dunes, large shady trees and a panoramic vista on two enchanting islands.

First a small bungalow was built, where he spent the hot season of the year with his wife and first born son, as his family grew and more relatives and guests visited a second larger house was then built. Each vacation started with the train journey from Bangkok to Hua-Hin, where they stopped for refreshments before continuing to the quaint station of Khao Tao, which still exists to this day. Upon arrival ox drawn carts greeted the traveling party and carried them to the seaside estate, where they would stay several months, enjoying the tranquillity and wonderful sea air.

Prince Rangsit, a son of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, King of Siam, was born on November 12th in 1885. He was educated in Europe and attended the University of Hiedelberg in Germany, where he met his future wife, Miss Elizabeth Scharnberger. They were married in England on the 28th of August in 1912 and then traveled to Siam to make their home in Bangkok.Prince Rangsit made his illustrious career in government service, holding the following posts:

  • Member of the Privy Council to H.M. King Vajiravudh (1/4/1911 - 26/11/1925)
  • Director General of the Department of Public Health (27/11/1918 - 12/1/1926)
  • Member of the Privy Council to H.M. King Prajadhipok (28/11/1925 - 14/7/1932)
  • Advisor to H.R.H. the Regent (12/1/1934 - 7/3/1935)
  • Chairman of the Council of Regency (16/6/1946 - 23/6/1949)
  • Regent of Thailand (23/6/1949 - 25/3/1950 and 4/6/1950 - 7/3/1951)
  • Chairman of the Privy Council (25/3/1950 - 7/3/1951)

He passed away on the 7th of March in 1951, being the last living son of King Chulalongkorn and was survived by his widow, Mom Elizabeth, his two sons, Princes Piya and Sanidh and a daughter Princess Charulak.

The site of Wang Majcha has always remained in the family and is now owned by Princess Charulak's son, Chantaka Puranananda.

THE ROYAL RETREAT

Heritage

Hua Hin has been the favorite Thai resort for almost a century. The area was discovered in 1910 by one of the Royal Princes on a hunting trip and the patronage of the Royal Family soon gave it great prestige as an ideal getaway from the sultry metropolis of Bangkok. The tranquil fishing village was turned into the Royal Resort and consequently became popular among Siam's nobility and upper-class. The construction of a railway line from Bangkok arriving in Hua Hin in 1911 ensured its accessibility and popularity with a wider part of the Thai public. The original quaint train station, built in teak wood, is still operational till this day and is on the route of the Eastern and Oriental Express, on it's journey to and from Singapore.

Hua Hin continued to develop in it's own leisurely way, as an aristocratic resort with the added attraction of The Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, which opened in 1924, making it Thailand's oldest course, amongst today's eight other fine courses including the world famous Black Mountain Golf Course, which was nominated the best new course in the Asia Pacific Region and the best championship golf course in Thailand.

The area's newest course, Sea Pine Golf Course, is in walking distance from Wang Majcha on Khao Tao Beach.The Railway Hotel, now the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, was built by the State Railways of Thailand in 1923 in the architectural style of old Siam, following the period's international trend for recuperative spa resorts which attracted affluent foreign patrons. There are now almost a dozen five star resorts in Hua Hin including the exclusive Chiva Som Desination Spa, which caters to celebrated actors, musicians, socialites and sports personalities.

In 1928, King Rama VII built Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries) Palace which remains until present an official Royal Residence. It is still frequently used by members of the Royal Family and is open to the public for visits.

Many of Bangkok's elite have built their own beachfront homes along the curving sandy bay, enjoying leisurely family weekends in a resort which has maintained its unique identity.