Lukshmi Vilas Palace - Vadodara

It was during our recent trip to Statue of Unity that we decided to make a quick visit to the grand Lukshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara.

The Luksmi Vilas Palace

Lukshmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara

Build on an estate of 700 acres, Lukshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, Gujarat is the luxurious home of the Rulers of Baroda. It was commissioned by Maharaja Sayaji Rao III in 1878 and was completed in 1890. Interestingly, Lakshmi Vilas Palace is four times the size of Buckingham Palace and was build at a cost of GBP 180,000 (Rs. 27,00,000 in 1890).

Entrance & Parking

You can enter from Gate No 2 which is the entrance of the Palace & Museum for general public. The security guard will make a note of your vehicle No. at Gate No 2. There is enough parking space within the compound of the Palace for two wheelers and four wheelers.

Timing

Anytime between 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. You will spend around 2 hours in the palace. So please plan accordingly.

Entrance Fee

The Entrance Fee is Rs 225 per person which includes an audio guide in English, Hindi & Gujurati. Divided into ten segments, the audio guide takes you to the royal journey amidst the courtyards of the Palace, The coronation Hall, The Armoury Room and The Durbar Hall.

The ticket is very beautiful and looks more like a postcard.

Photography inside the Palace is strictly not allowed. You can take pictures of the exterior of the Palace with your mobile phones. Taking pictures from your DSLR & Cameras are not allowed. There are many guards in every room in the Palace to ensure that you don’t touch anything and don’t click any picture. Respect the rule of the Palace.

The Garden & the Golf Course

A closer look of the Palace

The tour of the Palace starts from the beautiful garden which overlooks a massive golf course. It is a great vantage point for getting the panoramic views of the magnificent Palace. This is the place where you can have a picture with the Palace as the back drop. There are some peacock statues made in marble which gives a very royal touch.

The Entrance Hall

After many picture perfect clicks of the massive Palace we now head towards the Entrance Hall. The Entrance hall has beautiful marble pillars with magnificient carvings. There are marble sculptures by Fellici of a Brahmin, of a noble man, and a sculpture of the king and the queen mother.

Climbing the few steps, we reach the staircase. The pillars supporting the Entrance Hall have been carved with cow and sun – Sun being the main deity and cow being the symbol of the Gaekwads. The staircase has been intricately carved by Fellici. The windows above the staircase have been beautifully decorated with colored stained glass. The Lukshmi Vilas Palace has the maximum number of stained glass that has ever been used at one place in the world.

Weapons & Armoury

Wall Painting near the entrance of the Palace

Next comes - The Armoury, which has an impressive collection of swords, spears, daggers, guns, shields and other antique weapons. Anyone who has a weakness for weapons would like to spend a lot of time in this Exhibit. Every weapon in this Exhibit has been used in war and battles and has a story to tell.

Coronation Hall

One of the most important Hall in this Palace is the Cornation Hall also known as the Gaddi Hall. This hall is so sacred that you have to take off your footwear to enter this Hall. I was taken aback by the simplicity of the hall. This is the Hall where the Maharajas of Baroda were coronated. The throne (Gaddi) is very simple – a fat cushion placed under the peacock umbrella.

Beautiful Archways 

Another major highlight of this Coronation Hall is the regal paintings by Raja Ravi Verma.

The Darbar Hall

Connecting to the Elephant Hall, is the largest and the most beautiful room of the entire Palace, The Darbar Hall. This is the place where all the cultural performances took place. The Darbar Hall is a gigantic place which is not supported by any pillar. It’s a wonder how the structure supports itself.  The floor of the Hall has been inlaid with beautiful mosaic and semi precious stones. The upper parts of the wall are dotted with carved balconies made of rose and sandal wood.

The Durbar Hall; Courtsey : Natgeo

The windows of the Hall are decorated with the most beautiful stained glass, portraying scenes from the Hindu Mythology. 

The King of Baroda says that “There is perhaps no finer room in India”.

Just when you step out of the Darbar Hall, there is a small café within the Palace premises and I highly recommend some snacks and tea here before concluding your royal tour to the opulent Lukshmi Vilas Palace.

With the Palace as the backdrop

The Lukshmi Vilas Palace is an acknowledgement of the splendor of Baroda state, a beautiful combination of Indian and European architectural styles. If you happen to be in Vadodara, please make an effort to visit this grand and extravagant home of the Royals.

Don’t miss:

• The stained windows and the mosaic floor in the Durbar Hall
• Sword of Guru Govind Singh and Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
• Masterpiece paintings by Raja Ravi Verma
• Picture with the Palace as the background