Laxmi Vilas Palace, Royal palace in Vadodara, India
Laxmi Vilas Palace is a royal residence in Vadodara built in the Indo-Saracenic style, covering a large estate with courtyards, halls, and garden grounds. The domes, towers, and ornamented facades show the architectural influence of both European and Indian traditions from the late 1800s.
Commissioned in 1878 by Sayajirao Gaekwad III, ruler of Baroda State, the palace was built by 1890 to designs by British architects Charles Mant, its chief architect, and Robert Chisholm. It cost Rs. 6 million and was named after Lakshmibai, the maharaja's first wife. The Gaekwads, a Maratha family, ruled Baroda until 1947.
The museum inside holds metalwork, historic weapons, and ceramics from the Gaekwad dynasty era. Visitors can walk through halls decorated with mosaics and view artworks collected over centuries.
The palace offers guided tours through the main rooms and outdoor grounds, with photography allowed in certain areas. The visit typically takes a few hours, depending on how much time you spend in the exhibition rooms.
The Gaekwad family still lives in parts of the estate, while other sections are open as a museum and venue for cultural programs. This dual use makes the palace one of the few royal houses in India that remain both privately inhabited and publicly accessible.
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