Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara


The Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, was designed and constructed in 1890 by the British architect Robert Chisholm in the Indo-Saracenic style for the Gaekwad family, a prominent Maratha family, who ruled the Baroda State.
Lakshmi Vilas Palace was styled on the Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture, built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890 at a cost of £6,383,155 reflects Sayajirao's vision of blending Indian tradition with European modernity.
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Overview

At the time of construction, it boasted the most modern amenities such as elevators and the interior is reminiscent of a large European country house. It remains the residence of the royal family, who continue to be held in high esteem by the residents of Baroda. The Palace compound is of over 500 acres and houses a number of buildings, particularly the LVP Banquets & Conventions, and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum building.
In the 1930s Maharaja Pratapsinh created a golf course for use by his European guests. In the 1990s, Pratapsinh's grandson Samarjitsinh, a former Ranji trophy cricket player, renovated the course and opened it to the public.

Cultural significance

Raja Ravi Varma, the celebrated painter, was invited to the palace and worked closely with Sayajirao III. His paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses made divine imagery accessible to common people, influencing Indian art for generations. The palace also houses European paintings, sculptures, and artifacts collected by the Maharaja.

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