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Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara

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Lakshmi Vilas Palace
Panoramic view of the palace
Interactive map of the Lakshmi Vilas Palace area
General information
Architectural style
Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture
LocationVadodara, India
Completed1890
Cost76.5Cr
Design and construction
ArchitectRobert Chisholm
Website
www.gaekwarenterprise.com

Lakshmi Vilas Palace (Gujarati: લક્ષ્મી વિલાસ મહેલ) is a historic palace and royal residence located in Vadodara, Gujarat, India. The palace was commissioned in 1878 by Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the ruler of Baroda State, and constructed in 1890 by British architects Charles Mant and Robert Chisholm. Named after Sayajirao's first wife Lakshmibai, it served as the royal residence of the Gaekwad dynasty, a Maratha family which ruled the princely state of Baroda until its accession to the Dominion of India in 1947.[1][2] With a complex spanning over 500 acres, the palace is one of the world's largest private residences, and is a prominent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, combining elements from Indo-Islamic and Renaissance architectural styles.[3][4]

Constructed at a cost of Rs. 6 million,[5] the palace featured several technologically advanced amenities at the time of its completion, including indoor elevators and a telephone exchange.[6] The main palace houses the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum and serves as the living quarters of Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, the current ceremonial head of the Gaekwad dynasty. In addition to the palace, the overall building complex encompasses multiple gardens, the Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club, and the Moti Bagh Stadium. In 2024, Samarjitsinh announced plans to convert the palace into a hotel and tourist resort.[7]

Overview

At the time of its construction, Lakshmi Vilas boasted several modern amenities, including elevators and a private electrical generator.[1] It remains the residence of the erstwhile Gaekwad royal family. The palace compound covers over 500 acres and houses a number of buildings, including the cricket grounds at the Moti Bagh Stadium and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum. The latter features the private art collection of the Gaekwads, including several works by Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma.[8]

In the 1930s, Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad constructed a golf course for the use of his European guests. Pratap Singh's grandson Samarjitsinh renovated the course in the 1990s, and opened it to the public as the Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club.[9]

Lakshmi Vilas Palace

Scenes from the following movies were filmed at Lakshmi Vilas Palace:[10][11]

See also

References

  1. HoVB (9 September 2009). "Lukshmi Villas Palace". History of Vadodara - Baroda. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  2. "Laxmi Vilas Palace". Vadodara: Udaipur Kiran. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  3. Sarup, Pratyush (15 March 2026). "Lukshmi Vilas Palace: Know the hidden secrets of the world's largest private residence". Architectural Digest. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  4. Riffay, Sanila (25 May 2026). "In India, this monumental palace — with ornate façades and vast gardens — is the largest private residence in the world". EnVols. Air France. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  5. "Lukshmi Vilas Palace". Gujarat Tourism. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  6. "Lakshmi Vilas Palace: 8 stunning facts about the world's largest private home". Times of India. The Times Group. 18 March 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  7. Tere, Tushar (8 February 2024). "134-year-old Laxmi Vilas Palace to be converted into heritage resort". Times of India. The Times Group. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  8. Raviya, Hitest (12 April 2026). "The King and the Canvas: From Baroda's Court to the Global Auction Block". ThePrint. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  9. "Lukshmi Vilas Palace - Baroda". Gujarat Tourism. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  10. Shah, Vrutika (31 May 2020). "25 inside pictures of India's largest private residence, the luxurious Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara". Gentlemen's Quarterly. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  11. Kumar (27 November 2015). "'Sardaar Gababr singh' shooting at Lakshmi Vilas palace". India Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2026.

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22°17′38″N 73°11′29″E / 22.2939°N 73.1914°E / 22.2939; 73.1914