India's tryst with royalty began centuries ago, when the Maharajas and Rajas used to rule the land. Proof of how opulently they lived is evident even today, as their palaces stand tall and proud all throughout the country. Some palaces have been retained in their original form, while others have been converted into luxury hotels, to offer tourists a once-in-a-lifetime experience of lavishness and comfort. Here are ten of the most stunning palaces in India.
The Mysore Palace is arguably one of the most beautiful palaces in the world, currently inhabited by the Royal Family of Mysore, the Wodeyars. Due to the amount of palaces built in the city in the past, Mysore is often referred to as the “City of Palaces.” The Mysore Palace is also called the Amba Vilas Palace. The construction of the palace began in 1897 and was completed in the year 1912. British architect Henry Irwin was then commissioned by the royal family to extend the palace.
The Lake Palace of Udaipur rests in the center of Lake Pichola, and was built by Maharana Jagat Singh in the 18th century. The Maharana would spend his summers in the Lake Palace, and today, it has been converted into a luxury hotel, featuring 83 amazing rooms and suites. Maharana Swawoop Singh permitted many European families to use the Lake Palace as refuge during the famous Sepoy Mutiny. He even destroyed all the boats in the town so that the rebels couldn’t reach the palace. Time and the elements had taken its toll on the palace by the middle of the 19th century, and it was completely deserted. Bhagwat Singh recognized the potential of the dilapidated palace, and decided to convert it to Udaipur’s very luxury hotel.
The Laxmi Vilas Palace in Baroda is said to be one of the largest palace in the world, four times larger than the Buckingham Palace in England. The spectacular architecture and rich and opulent interior design is worth a visit. The palace is the official residence of the Royal Family of Baroda, the Gaekwad dynasty.
Umaid Bhawan Palace, owned by the Royal Family of Jodhpur is said to be one of the largest private residences in the world. Construction on the lavish palace began on 18th November, 1929 and was completed in 1943. One of the main reasons this palace was constructed by the royal family, was to provide employment to thousands of people during the time of famine.
The amazing thing about the City Palace of Jaipur is that it is made up by two main palaces - the Mubarak Mahal as well as the Chandra Mahal. The City Palace was initially built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. The Maharaja that succeeded Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II has been instrumental in the upkeep and redevelopment of the palace.
Inside the impressive Agra Fort, lies Jehangiri Mahal, the zenana palace (woman’s palace) where the Rajput wives of Akbar lived. This intricate and ornate palace is a carved five-story structure that is representative of the opulence and grandeur of its time. Jehangiri Mahal is considered to be one of the most important structures built during the Akbar period, and is an amalgamation of different styles and features that represent an avant-garde approach in architecture.
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