4.5 / 5

Laxmi Vilas Palace

📍 Vijay Vilas Palace, GujaratView map ›

🗓 Best Time To Visit:October to March

⏰ Open Hours:10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Closed on Mondays

🎯 Things To Do:Explore architecture, Visit museum, Photography

💰 Budget:INR 200 per person for Indians, INR 400 for foreigners

🧳 Traveller Types:History buffs, Architecture enthusiasts, Photographers

🔍 Known For:Being one of the largest private residences in the world, showcasing Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture

📍 Distances:6 km from Vadodara Railway Station, 9 km from Vadodara Airport

📸 Photography:Allowed with restrictions, No flash photography inside museum

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Suitable For:Families, Solo travelers, Couples

🎁 Souvenir Shop:Available at palace premises

🚗 Parking:Free parking available

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Laxmi Vilas Palace: A Majestic Monument of Vadodara

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a palace that is four times the size of Buckingham Palace? If yes, then you should definitely visit Laxmi Vilas Palace, a magnificent monument of Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

Laxmi Vilas Palace is not only one of the largest palaces in the world, but also one of the most beautiful and impressive examples of Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture.

In this article, we will take you on a virtual tour of Laxmi Vilas Palace and show you why it should be on your bucket list.

History

Laxmi Vilas Palace was commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the visionary ruler of Baroda State (now Vadodara), who wanted to create a grand residence for his family and guests. He hired Major Charles Mant, a British architect, to design the palace in the Indo-Saracenic Revival style, which combines elements of Indian, Islamic and European architecture.

The construction of the palace began in 1878 and was completed in 1890 at a cost of £180,000 (equivalent to about ₹27 crore today). The palace was named after Laxmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity.

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The palace witnessed many historical events and hosted many distinguished guests over the years. Some of the notable visitors include King George V and Queen Mary, who stayed at the palace during their visit to India in 1911.

The palace also served as the venue for the famous meeting between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, in 1931. The meeting resulted in the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, which granted some concessions to the Indian freedom movement.

Architecture

Laxmi Vilas Palace is a marvel of engineering and aesthetics. The palace covers an area of about 500 acres and has a floor area of over 170,000 square feet. It is four times the size of Buckingham Palace and has 170 rooms, 12 halls and several courtyards. The palace is built with red sandstone from Agra and has a striking facade with domes, minarets, arches and balconies. The main entrance of the palace is adorned with a large bronze statue of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III on horseback.

Photo of Laxmi Vilas Palace 2/3 by

The interior of the palace is equally stunning and lavish. The palace has several ornate halls, such as the Durbar Hall, which has a Venetian mosaic floor, Belgian stained glass windows and intricate chandeliers. The hall also has a collection of armours and weapons from different eras and regions. Another remarkable hall is the Gaddi Hall, which has a huge throne made of silver and gold. The hall also has portraits of the royal family members painted by Raja Ravi Verma, one of the most celebrated artists in India.

The palace also boasts of modern amenities such as elevators, electricity and plumbing. The palace was one of the first buildings in India to have electric lights installed by Robert Chisholm, another British architect who supervised the construction of the palace. The palace also has a hydraulic lift that was imported from England in 1890. The lift is still functional and can carry up to nine people at a time.

Attractions

Laxmi Vilas Palace is not just a palace, but a complex that houses several other buildings and attractions that are worth exploring. Some of them are:

LVP Banquets and Conventions: This is a modern facility that can host weddings, conferences and other events. It has a capacity of up to 1500 guests and offers catering services as well.

Moti Baug Palace: This is a smaller palace that was built by Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad in 1936. It is now converted into a golf club that has an 18-hole golf course and a clubhouse.

Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum: This is a museum that was originally built as a school for the royal children. It now displays a rich collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Verma and other artists, sculptures, weapons and royal memorabilia. The museum also has an art gallery that showcases contemporary artworks by local artists.

Golf Course: This is a lush green golf course that covers an area of about 300 acres. It is open to visitors who want to enjoy a game of golf or just relax in the serene surroundings.

Tennis Court: This is a clay tennis court that was built by Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad in 1930. It is one of the oldest tennis courts in India and has hosted many national and international tournaments.

Timings and Entry Fee

Laxmi Vilas Palace is open to visitors from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Mondays and public holidays. The entry fee for visiting the palace is ₹225 per person for Indians and ₹400 per person for foreigners.

The entry fee for visiting the museum is ₹80 per person for Indians and ₹150 per person for foreigners. There is also an option of taking an audio tour with a free drink and snack for ₹400 per person.

How to Reach

Laxmi Vilas Palace is located in Vadodara, a city in Gujarat, India. Vadodara is well connected by road, rail and air from different cities in India. Some of the ways to reach Vadodara are:

By road:

Vadodara is about 140 km from Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat, and about 390 km from Mumbai, the financial capital of India. There are regular buses and taxis available from both the cities to reach Vadodara.

By rail:

Vadodara has a railway station that is connected to major cities in India by various trains. Some of the trains that pass through Vadodara are Shatabdi Express, Rajdhani Express, Duronto Express and Garib Rath Express.

By air:

Vadodara has an airport that has domestic flights to and from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. There are also international flights to and from Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok.

From Vadodara railway station or bus stand, one can take an auto rickshaw to reach Laxmi Vilas Palace. The palace is about 4 km from the railway station and about 6 km from the bus stand. Here is a map of the palace location:

Also read: Laxmi Vilas Palace: The largest private dwelling built till date!

Accommodation

If you are planning to stay overnight in Vadodara, there are plenty of hotels and resorts near Laxmi Vilas Palace that offer comfortable and affordable accommodation options. Some of them are:

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Suite at Welcomhotel Vadodara

Welcomhotel Vadodara: This is a 5-star hotel that is located about 2 km from Laxmi Vilas Palace. It has 133 rooms and suites that are equipped with Wi-Fi, TV, minibar, tea/coffee maker and other amenities. It also has a restaurant, a bar, a spa, a gym and a swimming pool. The hotel charges ₹5000 per night for a standard room.

The Fern Residency: This is a 4-star hotel that is located about 3 km from Laxmi Vilas Palace. It has 34 rooms that are equipped with Wi-Fi, TV, minibar, tea/coffee maker and other amenities. It also has a restaurant, a cafe, a gym and a banquet hall. The hotel charges ₹3000 per night for a deluxe room.

Hotel Suba Elite: This is a 3-star hotel that is located about 4 km from Laxmi Vilas Palace. It has 50 rooms that are equipped with Wi-Fi, TV, minibar, tea/coffee maker and other amenities. It also has a restaurant, a coffee shop, a conference hall and a business centre. The hotel charges ₹2800 per night for a superior room.

Laxmi Vilas Palace is a majestic monument of Vadodara that showcases the glory and grandeur of the Gaekwad dynasty. It is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves history, culture and architecture. Whether you want to admire the palace’s beauty, explore its attractions or enjoy its activities, you will have an unforgettable experience at Laxmi Vilas Palace.

You may also like to check out: Laxmi Vilas Palace at Vadodara: A royal heritage of the Gaekwads

We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about Laxmi Vilas Palace. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave them in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.

Laxmi Vilas Palace Reviews

With a new day we were getting ready to say goodbye to Rann and say Hello to Mandvi , a place near Bhuj airport around 150 Kms from Rann of kutch takes around 3 hrs to reach there . Mandvi is famous for its beaches and the Vijay Vila’s palace and we planned to stay there for one night so see the beauty of the beach and calmness of private estate . After breakfast and checking out we were provided the souvenir bag consist of Cap and a glass vial containing Rann white salt sand. The heritage hotel is just a small guesthouse type place but what will amaze you is the hospitality they provide you. Rooms are quite BIG your voice will echo sometimes. They got a private beach where they got shack and serve you your Lunch and Dinner we decided to first go and visit the Vijay Vila’s palace and then we will go to beach side. Palace is good not too good. They try to maintain it neat but still lot of improvement needed. After spending an hour we drive to there private beach and spend some time till they serve you dinner . They provide us meal according to our taste made to order and special food as requested for our baby . We were so pleased seeing there hospitality. O
Vijay Vilas Palace is an epitome of graceful curves built in the fusion architectural style of local Kutch, Rajasthan and Bengal. The palace is nestled in 450 acres of lush greenery, with a 2-km stretch of private beach. It was made with red sandstone in the Rajput style, with a main central dome and coloured glass windows. You could probably recognise the palace as it has been featured in a number of Bollywood films such asLagaanandHum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Cuisine on offer Though the cuisine of Gujarat's western region is similar to the entire state, there are still some distinct differences. However, at the Rann festival, you will get vegetarian spreads only, as the community and the area is predominantly vegetarian. Expect to eat local Gujarati delicacies such asdhokla, thepla, gathia, sevand many others. There are also some international options available such as pastaand baked vegetables.
Once a summer palace of the royals of Kutch to beat the heat of Bhuj, it is now a full-time residence of the royal family. The Vijay Vilas palace was built near the Mandvi seashore which ensure its always windy and residents will feel comfortable during the summer. Due to cool wind from the sea and year around pleasant atmosphere the palace roof top terrace is also called Hava Mahal. Its design is an amalgam of old palace design from different regions of India with a modern architecture. This small contemporary palace is one of the best places to visit in Kutch.
This was around 1.30 hrs of journey from Bhuj. Thats the palace where few famous Bollywood movies shooting was done. Hum Dil de chuke sanam,Lagaanetc. Palace is quite good and a nice place to get the photo shoot done. We also witnessed few of the pre weddingshootingsin the palace. It was a sunny day and a big relief from cold Delhi NCR. Entry fees : Approx Rs 50 per adult Mobile cameras will also be charged here.
60 Kilometers away from the district headquaters (Bhuj), we decided to pay a visit to the summer palace of Jadeja Rajas of Kutch located on the sea-beach of Mandvi - Vijay Vilas Palace -Favorite spot for filming of Bollywood productions, it is built in red sandstone in the Rajput style. The balcony at the top affords an exquisite view of Mandvi. End your day with some sun kissed sand and ocean breeze at the Mandvi Beach
Photos of Laxmi Vilas Palace
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