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HERITAGE · PALACE · RESORTBalaram Palace
A palace in the forest — Balaram Palace, an elegant early-20th-century royal palace of the Palanpur Nawabs set amid wooded hills, now a heritage hotel by the Balaram river.
A Nawabi forest retreat
Balaram Palace is one of Banaskantha’s most graceful heritage buildings — an elegant palace built in the early 20th century by the Nawab of Palanpur as a hunting and summer retreat, set amid the wooded Aravalli foothills beside the Balaram river.
Designed in a refined Indo-European style with arched verandahs and gardens, it sits in beautiful, forested surroundings near the Balaram-Ambaji wildlife sanctuary, and today serves as a heritage hotel.
Even for those not staying, the palace and its leafy, hilly setting — close to the Balaram Mahadev temple and the scenic road towards Ambaji — make it a lovely heritage stop. Royal elegance amid the hills. (A heritage palace hotel; grounds/access may vary.)
Balaram Palace.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
The palace in the hills.
Built by the Palanpur Nawab.
Hunting and summer palace.
Arched verandahs & gardens.
A heritage hotel.
Reasons to make the time
Royal palace
Nawabi elegance.
Forest setting
Wooded hills.
By the river
The Balaram.
Heritage hotel
Stay or admire.
Indo-European
A refined style.
Balaram Mahadev
A temple nearby.
What to look for inside
Balaram
A forest retreat.
Wooded hills
By the river.
How to spend an hour or two
Admire the palace
Nawabi elegance.
Enjoy the forest
Wooded hills.
See the river
The Balaram.
Visit Balaram Mahadev
A temple nearby.
Sense the Nawabi era
Royal retreat.
Pair with Ambaji
On the scenic road.
Balaram Palace.
A palace in the woods
Balaram Palace is an elegant early-20th-century Indo-European palace built by the Nawab of Palanpur as a forest retreat beside the Balaram river, amid the wooded Aravalli foothills — now a heritage hotel near the Balaram-Ambaji sanctuary. Royal elegance amid the hills.
A Nawabi forest palace
Early-20th-century Indo-European
Beside the Balaram river
Now a heritage hotel
When to go
Cool and pleasant — the ideal season.
Green hills and waterfalls.
Hot and dry — start early.
⏰ Visit in the cooler months; pair the temples of Ambaji with the hills and the Rann-edge at Nadabet.
Timings & entry
- Open in daytime hours
- Best in the cool season
- An easy Banaskantha stop
- Pair with nearby sights
- A heritage hotel
- Grounds/access may vary
- Lovely forest setting
- Pair with the sanctuary
Getting there
By Air
Ahmedabad airport (~180 km).
By Rail
Palanpur Junction / Abu Road.
By Road
Ambaji / Palanpur.
At Balaram Palace
PALACE & FOREST
A Nawabi retreat
What to shoot
The palace facade.
Setting
Wooded hills.
Detail
The river & gardens.
Best light
Golden hour.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Where to eat around the ashram
North Gujarati Thali
Hearty regional meals.
Dhokla & farsan
Steamed snacks.
Ambaji prasad & street
Sweets & snacks.
Local fare
Simple North-Gujarat food; Ambaji sweets.
Balaram Palace FAQ
What is Balaram Palace?
Balaram Palace is one of Banaskantha's most graceful heritage buildings — an elegant palace built in the early 20th century by the Nawab of Palanpur as a hunting and summer retreat, set amid the wooded Aravalli foothills beside the Balaram river. Designed in a refined Indo-European style with arched verandahs and gardens, it sits in beautiful, forested surroundings near the Balaram-Ambaji wildlife sanctuary, and today serves as a heritage hotel.
Where is it?
near Palanpur, Banaskantha.
Is there an entry fee?
Heritage hotel.
When should I visit?
October to March, in the cooler season.
What's nearby?
Ambaji, Kumbhariya, Balaram and Nadabet.
How long does it take?
1–2 hours.
WHERE TO STAY
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