The Gaekwads' grand seat
Laxmi Vilas Palace is the magnificent seat of the Gaekwads, the Maratha dynasty that ruled the princely state of Baroda — and is reputed to be the largest private residence built in India, several times the size of Buckingham Palace.
Completed in 1890 for Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, it is a tour de force of Indo-Saracenic architecture by Major Charles Mant, blending Mughal domes, Rajput jharokhas and Gothic and Venetian elements into a vast composition of towers, courtyards and arcades. Set in extensive grounds — with a golf course, the Moti Baug palace and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum within — its interiors are famously opulent: Italian marble, Venetian mosaics, stained glass, chandeliers, a mosaic Durbar Hall and a celebrated collection of art and armour.
Still the residence of the Gaekwad family, parts of the palace are open to visitors. Entry is by ticket, and an audio tour covers the main halls and grounds.
Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara.
Charles Mant built this for Sayajirao III
The Indo-Saracenic facade.
Sayajirao III completed Laxmi Vilas in 1890 — the great modernising Gaekwad's statement house.
Charles Mant designed it in the Indo-Saracenic manner, fusing Indian and European forms.
Marble, Venetian mosaic and the Durbar Hall made its interiors famous.
It remains the Gaekwad family's home — a palace still lived in.
Reasons to make the time
Largest private home
It is reckoned the largest private residence in India — four times Buckingham Palace's spread.
Indo-Saracenic
The Indo-Saracenic fusion is at its grandest here — domes, jharokhas and clock tower together.
Durbar Hall
The Durbar Hall's mosaic floor and chandeliers are the interior's climax.
Royal art
The collections run to royal art and armour, shown in the Fateh Singh Museum.
Vast grounds
The estate spreads across some 700 acres, golf course included.
A living palace
It is still royal — the Gaekwads live here, and the tour respects that.
What to look for inside
THE PALACEThe grand facade
Towers, domes and jharokhas in Indo-Saracenic fusion.
THE GROUNDSThe royal estate
700 acres of gardens, golf and museum.
How to spend an hour or two
Tour the Durbar Hall
Take the audio tour through the Durbar Hall's mosaic and stained glass.
See the royal art
See the armour and collections in the palace rooms.
Admire the facade
Study the Indo-Saracenic towers and domes from the lawns.
Walk the grounds
Take in the estate's scale — a park inside the city.
Take the audio tour
Follow the audio route through the main halls.
Visit Fateh Singh Museum
Visit the Fateh Singh Museum within the grounds.
The palace and grounds.
Domes, halls and courts
Laxmi Vilas Palace is a vast Indo-Saracenic palace by Charles Mant (1890) — Mughal domes, Rajput jharokhas and Gothic-Venetian detail across towers, arcades and courts, set in ~700 acres.
Its opulent interiors — Italian marble, Venetian mosaics, stained glass and the mosaic Durbar Hall — and royal art collection make it the supreme princely residence of Gujarat. Entry is by ticket.
More places to visit across the district are gathered in our Vadodara travel guide.
More of the same kind is gathered in museums and palaces in Gujarat.
Our Vadodara city guide covers timings, tickets and how to get there.
Largest private residence in India
Indo-Saracenic by Charles Mant
Mosaic Durbar Hall
~700-acre royal estate
When to go
October to March is the ideal season for the palace and grounds.
The monsoon greens the estate; the tour is indoors regardless.
April to June is hot; take the earliest slot.
⏰ Take the audio tour of the Durbar Hall and main rooms; allow time for the grounds and the Fateh Singh Museum within.
Timings & entry
- Open Tue–Sun, daytime
- Audio tour of the halls
- Photography limited inside
- Allow about 2 hours
- A palace entry ticket
- Separate Fateh Singh Museum ticket
- Respect it as a royal home
- Closed on Mondays
Getting there
By Air
Vadodara airport (~9 km).
By Rail
Vadodara Junction.
By Road
In Vadodara city.
At the palace
PALACE & POWER
A princely masterpiece
What to shoot
The grand facade from the lawns.
Detail
Domes and jharokhas in detail.
Grounds
The royal estate's green sweep.
Best light
The facade at golden hour.
Know before you go
More to see close by
LAKESursagar Lake
A city lake crowned by a towering Shiva statue
NATUREAjwa-Nimeta Gardens
Musical fountains & lakeside greenery
Champaner-Pavagadh
The UNESCO-listed sultanate capital below Pavagadh hill, where an intact 15th-century city of mosques, gateways and…
Garba Nights
Nine autumn nights when Vadodara becomes the largest participatory dance floor in the world, from the…
EME Temple
A unique geodesic, aluminium-clad Shiva temple
HERITAGEMS University
India’s famed Faculty of Fine Arts campus
Where to eat near Laxmi Vilas Palace
THALIGujarati Thali
Sweet-savoury full meals.
FARSANSev usal
Baroda's spicy snack.
STREETLilo chevdo
Famous Baroda street food.
Foodie city
Famous for sev usal, lilo chevdo & farsan.
Laxmi Vilas Palace FAQ
What is Laxmi Vilas Palace?
The grand Indo-Saracenic seat of Baroda's Gaekwad rulers — reckoned India's largest private residence, and still the family's home.
When was it built?
Completed in 1890 for Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, to a design by Charles Mant.
Can I go inside?
Yes — the main halls open via a well-made audio tour, though it remains the Gaekwad residence.
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, a ticket for the palace tour; the Fateh Singh Museum in the grounds is ticketed separately.
When is it closed?
On Mondays.
What's inside?
The mosaic-floored Durbar Hall, royal art and armour, stained glass and the opulent state rooms.
How big is it?
Around 700 acres, including gardens and a golf course inside the city.
When should I visit?
October to March.
Related places across Gujarat
WETLANDSeasonal Flats
Flamingos, cranes & gazelle at the Rann’s edge
Shetrunji Dam
A large reservoir on the Shetrunji river near Dhari — a tranquil expanse of water amid…
HERITAGEVirpur
An old town with a royal past
BIRDSKhijadiya Bird Sanctuary
Where freshwater & marine birds gather
Auto World Vintage Car Museum
One of the world’s great private car collections — vintage Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and maharaja-era classics under…
4Nagina Masjid
A jewel-like mosque standing alone in the fields
WHERE TO STAY
Find your stay in Gujarat
Compare live prices across the big booking sites and reserve in a few taps. Booking happens securely on the partner's site — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Book directly on our partner sites — tap a provider to see live Gujarat hotels & prices:
SHOP THE REGION
Bring home Gujarat — & travel essentials
Hand-picked crafts and trip gear, available on Amazon.
Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026