When one thinks of forts and palaces it is Rajasthan that comes to mind. However, its neighbor Gujarat too does not lack in palaces. Take a trip to Gujarat and visit its legacy of royalty spread from Kutch to the South of Gujarat. Here is a list of the major highlights of Gujarat Tourism. Baroda Laxmi Vilas Palace There is no better place to start palace Tour of Gujarat than at Baroda. Fly in, arrive by train or by bus and begin your journey with a visit to the Laxmi Vilas Palace, one of the most beautiful heritage palaces in the country. It is built along the lines of the Buckingham Palace sometime around 1890 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. IT is four times the size of Buckingham Palace and you will stare in wonder at the magnificence of the Durbar Hall, the Venetian mosaic floor, stained glass windows and the collection of sculptures and armory. The Palace is spread over 700 acres of beautifully landscaped land and will kick start your palace trip in Gujarat. Baroda has other palaces too such as the Nazarbagh Palace, which is in a smaller scale. From here proceed to Makarpura Palace built by Maharaja Khende Rao in 1870 and then the Pratap Vilas Palace built in 1914 AD during the reign of His Royal Highness Jam Ranjitsinhji of Jamnagar. Kusum Vilas Palace, Chhota Udaipur Next, hire a car from a car rental agency in Gujarat and proceed to Chhota Udaipur, home to Kusum Vilas Palace, a five storeyed structure built in the early 1920s mimicking 12th century architecture. It has beautiful ceiling, mirrors, French furniture, Italian statues and a marble fountain in the courtyard. The Prem Bhavan Palace is next, just next to the Kusum Vilas Palace and it is now a heritage hotel. It is worth walking through it to marvel at its architectural splendor. Digvir Nivas Palace, Vansda, SuratDrive on to Vansda near Surat to visit the Digvir Nivas Palace built in the early 20th in the town founded by Maharaval Virsinhji in 1781. It is a grand structure with the highlights being the octagonal “chhatris” or umbrellas at the entrance. It is a fine example of European castle architecture transplanted into India. Drop your car here and take a train to Ahmedabad. Spend the day exploring some wonderful period style houses in the narrow lanes or pols of the city, in striking contrast to the magnificence of vast palaces but with a charm of their own. Then stay the night and hire a car for your next foray into Saurashtra. Wadhwan-Surendranagar Raj Mahal Wadhwan, the twin city of Surendranagar, less than 100 km from Ahmedabad is the first stop where you visit the Raj Mahal, built in the 19th century by His Highness Bal Sinhji. The Palace is located on a spread of 14 acres with the highlight being the Darbar hall with beautiful portraits, throne and painted ceiling. Saunter off to view the collection of vintage cars and explore the library on automobile books before proceeding to Hawa Mahal, a half completed projected but which is still admirable for its carvings. Wankaner - Rajkot Ranjit Vilas Palace Enjoy typical kathiawadi meals at a roadside restaurant and drive on to Wankaner for a visit to the Ranjit Vilas Palace built in 1907 by Maharaja Amarsinhji and named after Jam Ranjitsinhji of Jamnagar. Sitting prettily on a spread of 225 acres, the palace has beautiful facades front and rear with a clock tower in the centre. There is much to see by way of collection of swords and armory, vintage cars, stained glass galleries, period furniture, horse drawn carriages and live kathiawadi horses in the stable not to speak of Italian fountains in the grounds. Gondal Orchard Palace Drive on to Gondal, another princely city that is home to the Art deco Palace built between 1931 and 1944 according to European style architecture with the noteworthy point being that the interiors of granite are modeled on the lines of the London Underground Stations. The bedrooms are beautifully decorated with erotic paintings. Proceed to the Orchard Palace is next and it is a heritage hotel these days but one can still view the magnificence and get a glimpse into the days gone by. From here you go on to the Riverside Palace built in the 1800s by the crown prince of Gondal. This too is a heritage hotel but the architecture is worth a look as are the insides.
You can go on to Bhavnagar, home to Vijay Vilas Palace at Palitana across Mandvi or proceed to Bhuj and visit the Aina Mahal and then the Prag Mahal but make it a point to stop at Morbi for a visit to the Darbargadh Palace. The palace tour will be one to remember, a pointer to glorious grandeur of Gujarat in the past.
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