Tucked away in Vadodara, Gujarat, Lakshmi Vilas Palace stands as the world’s largest private residence—a breathtaking Indo-Saracenic masterpiece that continues to serve as a lived-in family home for the Gaekwad royal family. Commissioned in 1878 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III and completed in 1890 after more than a decade of construction, the palace was designed primarily by British architect Major Charles Mant and finished by Robert Fellowes Chisholm. It masterfully blends Indian, Islamic, Gothic, and European architectural styles, crafted from local Songhada sandstone and adorned with Italian mosaics, Belgian stained glass, and intricate lacquer work.
Spanning over 500 acres of grounds that include manicured gardens, a golf course, a stepwell, and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, the palace itself is often described as roughly four times the size of Buckingham Palace. Its total estate area has been cited as high as 30.5 million square feet. With more than 170 rooms, it was remarkably modern for its era, featuring elevators and an internal telephone system. Today, it remains a private residence for Maharaja Samarjitsinh Gaekwad and Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad, while select areas—including the museum and event spaces—are open to the public for concerts, exhibitions, and festivals.
The palace is entered through the ornate Haathi (Elephant) Hall, a blue-and-gold vestibule where the Maharaja could dismount directly from his elephant. At its heart lies the majestic Durbar Hall, once the venue for royal gatherings, state ceremonies, music, and dance. The hall boasts Venetian mosaic floors inspired by traditional Indian rangoli patterns, a spectacular lacquered ceiling with three-dimensional Islamic and Mughal-era designs, and Belgian stained-glass windows depicting Hindu deities such as Ram, Sita, and Bala Krishna. Massive crystal chandeliers illuminate the space, while carved rosewood balconies—supported by brackets shaped like angels dressed in nine-yard saris and traditional jewelry—allowed royal women to observe proceedings unseen. Adjacent to the hall is a serene water court framed by a sandstone colonnade carved with local flora, complete with fountains and sculptures.
Nearby, the Gaddi (Throne or Coronation) Hall is bathed in seafoam green, ruby red, and gold accents. This is where four Gaekwad kings were crowned in 1939, 1951, 1988, and 2012. A surprisingly simple gadi, or throne, sits beneath a painted Ramayana scene symbolizing duty. Opposite it hang monumental life-size paintings by Raja Ravi Varma: one of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, and another of Lakshmi, the goddess of abundance—reminders to the ruler of the value of education and prosperity. The hall also displays historic ivory-and-silver elephant carriages.
The private family wing occupies three floors arranged around palm-tree-lined courtyards with fountains. These intimate spaces include the Silver Room, a formal living area with butter-yellow walls, gilded silver-leaf detailing, and Baccarat chandeliers; a colorful terrazzo-tiled dining room featuring delicate plasterwork; and a grand carved-wood staircase. An internal balcony overlooks the king’s entrance courtyard, where carved sandstone columns and stained-glass windows cast rainbow shadows across the mosaics below. Guest rooms, a historic elevator, European sculptures, Murano glass pieces, and an extensive weaponry collection further enrich the interiors, along with additional works by Raja Ravi Varma. Even the roof features a whimsical mosaic floor reminiscent of a Dali painting.
Throughout the palace, the grandeur feels remarkably warm and personal. As Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad has observed, the scale is “larger than life,” yet it remains a family home filled with memories of raising her daughters. Designed to highlight cultural collaborations between India and the world over 135 years ago, Lakshmi Vilas Palace continues to stand as a living testament to royal legacy—open in spirit to the people of India while preserving its role as one of the most extraordinary private residences on Earth.
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