ગુજરાતી
English
31 October 2024
The imposing complex of the historic Lakshmi Vilas in Vadodara, known as one of the top prosperous states of India and a welfare state during the British rule, has been the center of Gaekwad rule for 131 years with its grandeur, architectural style.
There was a priceless palace and unimaginable treasures here. The Gaekwads and Marathas came every year with armies to collect taxes from 160 kings, courtiers, Rajputs and Garasdars of Saurashtra. The wealth of Saurashtra was used in the construction of the palaces of the Marathas of Vadodara.
The Lakshmi Vilas Palace, built in Vadodara in 1890, is one of the most magnificent buildings in India. A masterpiece of architecture, this palace is still one of the largest private residences in the world. Not only this, if we include the palace and its premises, then its area is four times the area of Buckingham Palace of the King of England.
It is not only the largest residential area in the world but is also four times bigger than Buckingham Palace.”
The area of Buckingham Palace is 77 thousand square meters while the area of Lakshmi Vilas Palace is 28 lakh 32 thousand 799 square meters.
The number of rooms in Buckingham Palace is more than Lakshmi Vilas Palace. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms while Lakshmi Vilas Palace has a total of 303 rooms including gallery and hall. But if we talk about the entire courtyard of both the palaces, then the area of Lakshmi Vilas Palace is four times more than Buckingham Palace.
The area of the rooms is not small, but large. Therefore, it cannot be compared with Buckingham Palace.
This palace is built in Indo-Saracenic Revival architectural style, which is counted among the luxurious palaces of the world.
This palace was built by Maharaja Sayajirao III of Vadodara in 1878.
Before the construction of this palace, the Gaekwad royal family lived in Sarkarwada in Vadodara. Their treasures were kept in Nazarbagh Palace. Makarbagh Palace was too far for them. Therefore, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad felt that he needed a bigger palace.
Jitendrasinh Gaekwad is currently active in the preservation of the palaces of the princely states of India and the various historical heritage associated with them. He said, “The then Diwan of the Maharaja, Sir P. Madhavrao, had proposed to build such a palace.”
Sayajirao Gaekwad appointed a special architect, Major Charles Manton, for this. Charles Manton was a famous British architect.
Ahilyabai, the daughter of Sayajirao III’s predecessor Maharaja, was married to the Maharaja of Kolhapur in the year 1850. She entrusted Charles Manton with the responsibility of building her palace. Sayajirao was impressed by the palace and entrusted Charles Manton with the responsibility of building the Lakshmi Vilas Palace.
Charles Manton died mysteriously even before the construction of the palace began. He committed suicide.
Mandaben Hingurao must have felt that there was some error in the architectural drawings or calculations. She felt that this palace would not last long. He committed suicide so that the palace would not last.
After Manton’s death, the responsibility of building the palace was handed over to architect Robert Fellows Chilsom.
One of the most expensive palaces in the world, this palace took 12 years to build. In the year 1890, its cost was $ 1,80,000. Pounds. Which was about 40 lakh rupees at that time.
Colorful stones have been used instead of paint on the walls of the palace. Its design, construction, carvings, figures and architecture are extremely unique.
This is the construction of Indo-Saracenic style. In which a mixture of the best architectures of the world is seen. In which Hindu architecture, Rajput style, Islamic style, Christian style, Turkish, Roman, Greek, Moroccan architectural styles are seen.
Dewan Sir P. Madhavrao and his mentor Elliot suggested that the stones found in Songarh should be used in the palace. The stones found in Songarh are yellow in color. They are golden and shine in the light. So stones were brought from Songarh to build the walls.
The stones used in the construction of this palace were brought from Surendranagar. Some stones were brought from Rajasthan and marble from Italy.
The palace was completed in 1890, but it took another ten years to build its interiors.
Earlier, the palace complex was spread over 1,000 square feet (4,000 m). 700 acres of land, now it has become about 500 acres. The rest of the land is being used for roads or other purposes.
Love story
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III’s first wife Chimnabai I, whose first name was Laxmibai.
From 1880, when Laxmibai and Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Vadodara got married.
Son Fateh Singh was born. After childbirth, she died in 1885 at the age of just 21.
He loved the queen very much. Gaekwad royal family There is a tradition of changing the name of the wife after marriage. Her name was Lakshmi, which was later changed to Chimnabai.
He married Gajrabai for the second time. But he did not forget his first wife.
When the Maharaja completed the construction of this palace, he named it Lakshmi Vilas after the birth name of his first wife Chimnabai, i.e. Lakshmibai.
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad built hospitals, lakes, minarets, markets etc. in honor of his wife.
The Maharaja got a portrait of Chimnabai I made by the famous painter Raja Ravi Verma. Which is today in the Lakshmi Vilas Palace
There were many precious artifacts in the palace. Some of them were as follows:
There were rare and exemplary equipment like an elephant palanquin, a bullock cart made of gold and silver and a horse carriage plated with gold and silver.
The palace had 4 gold cannons and 16 silver cannons.
One gold cannon weighed 200 kg. In total there were two gold cannons and four silver cannons. The Gaekwad family melted some of them.
The gold and silver cannons were not kept in the Lakshmi Vilas palace but in the Nazarbagh palace. Because the Gaekwad family kept their treasure in the Nazarbagh palace.
Special bulls were kept to pull the cannons and these bulls were decorated with precious ornaments.
The cannon was regularly worshipped and garlanded. Special priests were appointed for the worship.
The palace has rooms like the elephant room, the court room, the throne room, the eye room, the silver room, the gold room, the harp room and the armory. The palace is three storeyed. While its tower is 11 storeyed. Apart from this, the palace has 50 verandas and 16 terraces.
There is a red room here, which was built to keep the body of a member of the royal family when he died.
The palace has large rooms in French-German style. There are nine buildings like small palaces inside the palace. Among them is a French bungalow, 26 dogs of the royal family were once kept. Apart from this, there are also stables and garages to keep carriages.
It was earlier thought of installing a clock in the tower of the palace. But then the idea changed. The royal family believed that the ticking of the clock would disturb them. Therefore, the tower remained, but the clock was not installed.
At one time a red light was lit on top of the tower. In those days the red light symbolized the presence of the king in the palace. Therefore, anyone who wanted to meet the king would come to the palace after seeing the red light.
The palace armoury has swords of Shivaji, Aurangzeb, Akbar and Guru Gobind Singh.
The palace armoury has not only weapons from the Maratha period but also other rare and historical weapons.
Weapons and armour were displayed in the armoury. An inventory of the weapons was prepared.
The sword of Shivaji, the sword of Aurangzeb, the sword of Akbar, the sword of Jahangir, the swords given by the then King of Britain George V are on display here.
The swords are of different types. There are Nagin swords, Sirohi swords, Patni swords, Guru Gobind Singh’s sword, Champaneri swords and a discus throwing machine imported from England.
The Navdurga sword depicts nine forms of Durga. There are some gold and diamond studded swords. One sword has an ivory handle.
The throne kept in the throne room is simple. There is a banquet below it and a gaddi on it. The king sits on it only when he is coronated, after that he does not sit on it. There are thrones made of gold and silver for him to sit. This simple throne symbolizes to make him realize that the king is the servant of the people.
The Gadi Hall has old-fashioned drums which are still played during the Dussehra festival.
The palace has fountains and lush green trees. The gardens around the palace were designed by British botanical gardening designer William Goldring.
The huge domes and chhatris, urns and arched entrances in the facade of the palace are the center of attraction.
Various mosaic designs are seen on the floor of the palace. Which are equally attractive even today.
53 paintings of Raja Ravi Varma are preserved in the Lakshmi Vilas Palace.
Paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, one of the greatest painters of India, are seen throughout the palace. The interior of the palace is decorated with magnificent paintings made by Ravi Varma.
P. Madhavrao was the Diwan of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad. He was from Kerala. So he told the Maharaja about Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings. The Maharaja called Raja Ravi Varma to Vadodara and got special paintings made for the palace.
Raja Ravi Varma kept visiting the palace for about 14 years. A special studio was built for him in the palace itself.
Kans Maya, Krishna’s release from prison, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Sita Swayamvar, Keechak Vadh, Sita’s Grihapravesh etc. The painting style was of Tanjore. The painting was influenced by the Maharashtrian painting style.
At one time, the palace had about 1000 paintings by various famous painters and about 7000 such different artefacts.
The furniture of the palace rivals the most expensive furniture in the world. It was brought from China, Japan, European countries, Africa, America and various parts of India.
20 films have been shot in the palace.
It had its own private zoo. In which various wild animals and birds were kept. The most advanced technology of that time was installed. At that time the palace had a telephone system, lift i.e. a lift. This lift can still be seen today, but now there is no zoo.
A school was built for the princes to study. To reach the school, there was a small rail track on which a train used to run. This train used to run in the mango garden in the courtyard of the palace.
In the year 1954-55, it was decided to run a train to Kamati Bagh. Then the train was run for the entertainment of children. In the year 1965, the film Brahmachari was shot in this train, in which the song ‘Chakke pe chakke, chakke pe gaadi, gaadi pe nikli apni sawari’ was filmed on actor Shammi Kapoor.
It has its own golf course and a cricket ground. There is also a swimming pool, tennis court and badminton court. The office of Baroda Cricket Association is located in one of the palace’s tracks.
Located in the courtyard.
There is a part. Its courtyard has Navlakhi Vav and a museum.
The Darbar Hall is 5,000 square feet wide and does not have a single pillar.
The Darbar Hall can accommodate 1000 people.
The Darbar Hall is the largest hall. Big royal ceremonies were held here, in which guests from all over the country and abroad came. Music concerts were organized here. Famous musician Faiyaz Khan used to play his music here. Musicians like Maula Bakhsh, Inayat Khan and Abdul Karim have performed their art.
The Darbar Hall has one of the most magnificent and luxurious objects. Its interior decoration is worth seeing. This hall is decorated with mosaic floors imported from Venice, gleaming beautiful windows, lattices, chandeliers purchased from abroad and many other artifacts.
The grand entrances of the palace reflect the influence of the Gaekwad Empire. There are gates all around the courtyard, but there is no gate inside the palace.
The design of the coloured glass was selected and sent to Germany. From there, the glass was prepared and installed in the windows here. Thus, about 350 pieces of coloured glass have been installed.
During the construction and preparation of its interior, foreign artisans were called from different countries.
Experts say that the value of this palace is priceless. Looking at its architecture and priceless objects, its value cannot be determined. It is priceless.
Every year Dussehra, Navratri and Ganeshotsav are celebrated here grandly.
It is a confluence of nature, architecture and history together. Despite being 130 years old, its carvings, finery and construction are amazing.
The Gaekwad royal family has witnessed disputes over succession and conflicts over property rights.
After the untimely death of Fateh Singh, son of Sayajirao Gaekwad III (heir to the throne), his son Pratapsinghrao Gaekwad was made the king. He had three sons and five daughters.
Due to a dispute between Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad and the Government of India over some matters, his eldest son Fatehsinh Gaekwad II ascended the throne. But since he had no children, his brother Ranjitsinh Gaekwad ascended the throne. Pratapsinhrao’s third son was Sangramsinh.
A dispute broke out between Sangramsinh and Ranjitsinh over the division of property. Although the dispute was between two brothers, 23 members of the Gaekwad royal family were involved in it.
The dispute and legal proceedings between Ranjitsinh and Sangramsinh continued for 23 years.
Ranjitsinh Gaekwad died in 2012. His son is Samarjitsinh.
The dispute ended when a settlement was reached between the two families in a local court in Vadodara.
Samarjitsinh Gaekwad signed an agreement with his uncle. Under which the dispute that started in 1991 ended.
The Gaekwad royal family is not ready to say anything about this settlement.
The two families had to compromise without any hesitation. The dispute reached the Supreme Court.
Samrajit Singh got the Laxmi Vilas Palace. While his sisters and nephews were given parts of other premises of the palace. Sangram Singh got Indumati Palace, Ashok Bungalow, Nazarbaug Palace, Atul Bungalow and a large property in Juhu.
Samrajit Singh got the ‘Star of the South’, Akbar Shah diamond worn by the Mughals and the Aprice Iguani diamond.
The Gaekwad royal family’s wealth of Rs 50 thousand crores was distributed.
Only family members were present during the distribution of the property. Secrecy was maintained.
The royal families had settled the matter by voluntarily distributing the Gaekwad treasure, which also included gems. (Google translation from Gujarati)
