The facade
Domes and towers.
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Laxmi Vilas Palace is a royal palace in Vadodara, Gujarat, about 1.8 km in a straight line south-east of the city centre. Set in a complex of more than 200 hectares, it is described as the world's largest private residence and is a leading example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, which blends Indo-Islamic and European Renaissance styles. Sayajirao Gaekwad III, ruler of Baroda State, commissioned it in 1878, and the British architects Charles Mant and Robert Chisholm completed it in 1890. It was named after his first wife, Lakshmibai, and when finished it had lifts and a telephone exchange, rare at the time. The Gaekwad family still lives here, and the palace houses the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum. Its long facade of reddish and cream stone bristles with domes, towers, arches and balconies, crowned by a tall clock tower. Wide lawns and gardens surround the palace, and the complex includes other historic buildings. Entry is paid, and visits usually follow an audio-guided tour; photography inside may be restricted. Allow at least an hour and a half.
Domes and towers.
Above the palace.
Wide gardens.
Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Yes, by the Gaekwad family.
Photography inside may be restricted.