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Gujarat
The Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, Gujarat, owned by the Gaekwad royal family, is the largest private residence in the world, surpassing even Buckingham Palace and Antilia.
Built in 1890 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III at a cost of £180,000 (₹27 lakh), the palace spans over 500 acres and has over 170 rooms. It is four times the size of Buckingham Palace and could be worth well over Rs 24,000 crores.
The palace, designed in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, is currently the private abode of HRH Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, his wife Radhikaraje Gaekwad, and their two daughters. It features stunning interiors with chandeliers, mosaics, and precious artworks, as well as modern amenities like elevators and an internal telephone exchange.
The palace compound includes several buildings like the Moti Bagh Palace, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, and LVP Banquets and Conventions. It also boasts a golf course, cricket ground, swimming pool, and club house.
Radhikaraje Gaekwad, born on July 19, 1978, is the daughter of Dr. MK Ranjitsinh Jhala, a pioneering figure in the royal family who renounced his title to become an IAS officer. She holds a Master’s degree from Lady Shri Ram College at Delhi University. Prior to her marriage to Maharaja Samarjitsinh Gaekwad in 2002, Radhikaraje worked as a journalist for three years, establishing herself in a career that was uncommon for women in her family at the time.
Radhikaraje recalls her upbringing as modest, emphasizing independence through experiences like commuting on public buses during her school years. This foundation motivated her to pursue a career in journalism, where she became the first woman in her family to work before marrying into the Baroda royal family.
After her marriage, she found her passion in reviving traditional weaving techniques inspired by the art in the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, leading to successful initiatives that empowered local artisans. Radhikaraje emphasizes that her royal title does not define her; rather, she aims to pass on values of independence and self-determination to her daughters.
