You must have seen many royal palaces in India. All tell the story of India's culture and prosperity. By the way, every palace has its history, Lakshmi Vilas is also like that. Lakshmi Vilas Palace, located in Gujarat's Vadodara city, is four times the size of London's Buckingham Palace and is spread over 700 acres of land. Lakshmi Vilas Palace is one of the grandest structures in India and was once the home of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. The palace itself is a famous cultural attraction of Gujarat. So let's know about Laxmi Niwas Palace.
The construction was completed in 12 years
Lakshmi Vilas Palace was built in 1890 and took about 12 years to complete. This royal palace is still the home of the Gaekwads, the royal family of Vadodara. There are several buildings within the Laxmi Vilas Palace complex including the LVP Banquet and Conference Hall, Moti Bagh Palace, and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum building. The museum was specially built as a school for the children of the king. Today, it displays a rare collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma and various artifacts collected from around the world.
Palace architecture
The architecture of Lakshmi Vilas Palace is unique. It is built in the Indo-Saracenic style. A combination of Gothic, Muslim, and Hindu elements can be seen on its domes, minarets and arches. Charles Munt was the chief architect of the Lakshmi Vilas Palace and it took him and his team more than 12 years to complete it.
This palace was built for two people
It is said that this palace was built for only two people i.e. Maharaja and Maharani. The room houses some beautiful sculptures made of bronze, marble and terracotta. Spread over 700 acres, Laxmi Vilas Palace houses the beautiful Navlakhi Bawdi, Maharaja Fatehgarh Museum and a small zoo known as the resting place of crocodiles.
Audio guide feature
After checking out the palace, the entry ticket for Indian tourists has been kept at Rs 225 and for foreign tourists at Rs 400 per person. If you think the tickets are expensive, there are also audio guides in several languages. You can choose between Hindi, Gujarati and English language.
From the swimming pool to massage, center is also here
With a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and baby pool, this place is fun for a family trip. Not only this, there is also an Ayurvedic massage center here. Apart from this, tourists can enjoy puppet shows here every evening.
When to visit Laxmi Vilas Palace
By the way, you can visit Laxmi Vilas Palace anytime throughout the year. But for a comfortable journey, the best time is between October to March. At this time the atmosphere here is pleasant.
