Sprawling over an area of 700 acres, Laxmi Vilas Palace is a popular tourist
destination in Vadodara. The palace is one of the finest example of Indo-Sarcenic
style of architecture. The official residence of the Gaekwads, the erstwhile
rulers of Baroda (Baroda now called as Vadodara), it was constructed by
Maharaja Sayaji Rao III in 1890. Named after his first wife, the Laxmi
Vilas Palace is considered as the most elegant and unique among the palaces
of India. It is still, the residence of the royal family Maharaja, Ranjit
Singh Gaekwad. Laxmi Vilas Palace is the ideal place for organizing the
wedding/reception also.
Designed by a British Military Engineer Major Charles
Mount, it's construction work started in 1878 and was completed in 1890.
Set amidst the sprawling 744 acres, the palace is studded with bronze
and marble sculptures between banyan trees. Incorporating a large number
of different Indian and European architectural styles, the Palace is a
combination of turrets, towers, domes, arches and columns, that blend
together in remarkable harmony. The palace is faced in red Agra sandstone
with Rajasthani marble and blue trap stone from Pune.
This 175 m wide palace's inside is as spectacular as
the exterior. The palace has around 170 rooms with a collection of old
armour as well as bronze and marble sculptures, modern elevators, arches,
pillars etc. The palace is decorated with the fine works of the Italian
artist, Fellicci, commissioned by the Maharaja. It's interior consisting
of beautifully sculpted statues, bronze busts of former rulers and trophies.
The major attraction of Laxmi Vilas Palace is the magnificent Darbar hall
which was the venue of music concerts and other cultural events. It has
Venetian mosaic and marble floor and walls and stained glass from London. It
is said that, the palace contains about 6000 such stained glasses.
Within the palace premises houses a number of buildings
the Moti Baug Palace, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, a hospital, an indoor
teak floored court for Badminton and Tennis, Clay Tennis courts, a school,
a big lake with a number of crocodiles, zoo, stud farm, a miniature railway
line construted to take Maharaja's children from the school to the Palace,
and a 10 hole golf course (it has the the cheapest membership. Contact:
98250 17004 / 99250 17004).
The museum named Fateh singh Rao Museum, established
in the year 1961. The building was originally constructed for the educational
purpose of Maharaja's children and later converted to a museum. It contains
various art works and articles belonging to the royal family as well as
modern western and Indian paintings, Graeco-Roman exhibits, Chinese and
Japanese art, and a large collection of contemporary Indian art. It also
houses portraits of the royal families, beautiful sculptures made of bronze
and marble, art works by renowned artists etc. Among the paintings displayed
here by various European and Indian artists, paintings of Raja Ravi Varma
and European painters such as Raphael, Murillo and Titian deserve special
mention. A room is decorated in a royal style which reminds the Sayaji
Rao Gaekwad’s stay in England. For more information contact -+91
265 2426372. In front of the museum there is a steam engine of toy train
(one of the world's smallest locomotive steam engines) which can viewed
anytime. Both the palace and the museum has a audio guide facility. It
is a one hour audio which contains a detailed description about palace
foundation, architecture, sculptures, carvings etc.
Adjacent to the Motibaug Palace is the Moti Bagh Stadium (Motibaug Palace
Ground) and the offices of the Baroda Cricket Association. The lush green
picturesque Moti Bagh Cricket Ground, is one of the most beautiful and
Asia’s oldest cricket ground.
The palace and museum is open to the public except some sections where
the royal family lives. Timings: open between 10.30am to 5 pm all days
except Mondays and National holidays. Entrance Fee: 125/-
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Monuments 
