Inside world's largest private residence, bigger than Buckingham Palace; Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani's Rs 15000 crore Antilia, is located at…, owner is..
Lukshmi Vilas Palace is the home to the Gaekwad family, which is a Maratha dynasty. They were the ruling family of the princely state of Baroda (now Vadodara) from the early 18th century until 1947. The palace has seen the coronation of four Gaekwad kings, the most recent one being HH Maharaja Samarjitsinh Ranjitsinh Gaekwad, who was crowned in 2012. His wife, HH Radhikaraje Gaekwad, is an activist for women's empowerment and for the promotion of India's heritage crafts. The couple has played a large role in the palace becoming more accessible to the general public. They have hosted annual dance festivals, vintage car shows, music performances in the Durbar Hall, and craft fairs all throughout the palace grounds.
While speaking to AD, Radhikaraje stated, 'Lukshmi Vilas Palace is ultimately for the people of India.' Spanning 30.5 million square feet, the palace is the world's largest private home. It is ten times bigger than Turkey's White Palace, and its square footage is 36 times that of Buckingham Palace.
The palace include a professional golf course, and an ancient baoli (stepwell)that dates back to the Mughal period, reported AD. Built in 1890 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, Laxmi Vilas Palace is home to over 170 rooms and features its own golf course. Originally constructed at a cost of GBP 180,000, the palace continues to stand as a symbol of the Baroda royal family's grandeur.
According too the AD report, there are four main entrances to the palace. One of the entrances was even specially designed for the king to walk off of his elephant and step directly onto the porch. The Hatti (Elephant) Hall, decorated in blue and gold, leads to the Durbar Hall, which beautifully combines Indian and European architectural styles.
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