Ranjit Vilas Palace (Rajkot)

The Ranjit Vilas Palace is a palace in the city of Rajkot, Gujarat and is the residence of the royal family of the erstwhile Rajkot State.

History

Ranjit Vilas was built in 1870 by the then Thakur Sahib of Rajkot, Bawajiraj Mehrmansinhji. The construction of the palace was begun as a famine relief measure following the famine of 1847. Before it shifted to the Ranjit Vilas, the royal residence was the Durbargadh Palace which thereafter continued to house offices of the Rajkot State and, after India’s independence, those of the government of Gujarat.[1][2][3]

Location and architecture

The palace is located on Palace Road, Rajkot and its estate covers an area of 225 acres. The palace is built in the Gothic style and has 100 rooms spread over six acres. The palace garage contains a collection of vintage cars of the Rajkot State.[4][5][6] A temple dedicated to Ashapura Mata stands on the palace premises.[7]

Recent history

The palace continues to be the residence of the royal family of Rajkot, being one of the few palaces of erstwhile ruling families that have not been opened to the public as heritage hotels, and hosts family and political functions involving the royal family.[8][9][10][11][12] In 2020, it was the venue of the coronation of the current Thakor Saheb of Rajkot, Mandhatasinh Jadeja who succeeded his father Manoharsinhji Pradyumansinhji.[13][14] The palace is also part of an ongoing property dispute between Jadeja and his sister.[15][16] The design for the façade of the new international airport at Rajkot has been inspired by the Ranjit Vilas Palace and the use of jalis in palaces as a means of controlling internal temperatures in buildings.[17][18]

References
  1. "The lavish lifestyle of India's royalty". BBC News. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  2. "Rajkot: Durbargadh set to be converted into a museum". The Indian Express. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  3. প্রতিবেদন, নিজস্ব (23 February 2021). "নির্মাণের নেপথ্যে খরা, ১০০ কক্ষের এই প্রাসাদেই সপরিবার থাকেন 'রাজা' মান্ধাতা সিংহ". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  4. Katariya, Meenu (12 December 2020). "A Sneak Peek At 10 Royal Families Of India That Still Live Lavishly In Palaces". www.scoopwhoop.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  5. Mahurkar, Uday (20 August 2011). "Princely families in Gujarat turn homes into heritage hotels". India Today. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  6. "42 years on, Star of India returns home". Rediff. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  7. "રાજકોટના રાજવીનો જાજરમાન રણજીત વિસાલ પેલેસ, રજવાડી ઠાઠ સાથે જુઓ અંદરનો નજારો". Divya Bhaskar. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  8. "Ahead of assembly polls, BJP to woo Kshatriyas in Rajkot | Rajkot News - Times of India". The Times of India. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  9. "Where India's royal families are today, from the Mewars to the Pataudi clan". South China Morning Post. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  10. "The Royal family of Rajkot". The Times of India. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  11. "City to witness its erstwhile royal glory | Rajkot News - Times of India". The Times of India. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  12. "Royal wedding takes city down the nostalgic lane | Rajkot News - Times of India". The Times of India. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  13. Mahurkar, Uday (14 February 2020). "A Royal Affair". India Today. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  14. "Ex-Guj finance minister Manoharsinh Jadeja dead | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  15. "Rajkot royal family's bitter property dispute, Rs 4,500 crore at stake!". Zee News. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  16. "Rajkot royal family dispute: शाही महल, बेशकीमती गहने और विंटेज कार... भाई-बहन के बीच 4,500 करोड़ रुपये का प्रॉपर्टी विवाद". Navbharat Times (in Hindi). 12 October 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  17. V, Manju (10 June 2022). "New airport for Rajkot, international flights likely in future | Rajkot News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  18. "AAI starts construction work at Rs 1405-crore Rajkot greenfield airport". TimesNow. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.

22.2935°N 70.8093°E / 22.2935; 70.8093

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