Makarpura Palace - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Travelers who want to peep into the life of erstwhile rulers should visit the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum on their holiday to Gujarat. The museum occupies some portion of the esteemed Laxmi Vilas Palace, which was once the official residence of the Gaekwad family of Gujarat. On display in the museum are exclusive marble collections from countries like Europe, Japan, and China. Paintings made by Raja Ravi Varma depicting the royal family of Gaekwar are the highlights of the museum.

Laxmi Vilas Palace is one of the most majestic structures in India and was the private residence of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Known to be the largest private dwelling of the size equivalent to four times of the Buckingham Palace, this magnificent palace is a must visit when in Vadodara. Sprawling across an area of about 700 acres, it is still home to the royal family of Vadodara, the Gaekwads. The lush gardens of the palace add to the beauty of the entire experience of being here.

One of the most popular landmark of Vadodara, located near the polo ground was built in 1935 to commemorate the 60 years rule of the Maharaja Sayajirao 3rd. The sthambha is made out of pink Songadh stone.

Built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in the memory of his wife, Nyaya Mandir in Vadodara is a spectacular monument designed by the Robert Chisholm. Nyaya Mandir comprises a central hall with mosaic tiles and a statue of Chimnabai, wife of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of the Gaekwad dynasty of the Marathas. This ancient building is now a district session court.

Sur Sagar Lake also known as the Chand Talao is a lake situated in the middle of the city of Vadodara. The lake was rebuilt with stone masonry in the 18th Century. The water in this lake remains in it for the whole year. A concrete wall surrounds the lake on which the people use to sit. A 120 ft tall statue of Lord Shiva built by Vadodara Mahanagar Seva Sadan stands in the middle of the lake. There are many underwater gates in the lake that empty the lake if it overflows.

Mandvi Gate, often termed as the North gate of the Royal Enclosure, is one of the major landmarks in Vadodara dating back to the Mughal period. Built by Sultan Muzaffar (1511-26 AD), this square-shaped pavilion features three bold arched openings on each of its four sides. Marked by a market place in today’s time, this gate separates the two intermingled streets into four that meet in the centre.