April 6, 2008

Jai Vilas Palace


The Jai Vilas Palace is the residence of the Scindia family. The Scindia family ruled Gwalior until India’s independence from the British in 1947, when Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia acceded to the Government of India.


Gwalior was merged with a number of other princely states to become the new Madhya Bharat state (Malwa Union). Jivaji Rao Scindia served as the state's rajpramukh, or appointed governor, from 1948 to 1956, when Madhya Bharat was merged into Madhya Pradesh.


The white 19th-century Jai Vilas Palace is built along the Tuscan and Corinthian architectural style.

The Palace rooms are reminiscent of a majestic lifestyle of the Scindias. Furnishings in gilt, heavy draperies and tapestries, fine Persian rugs, antique furniture etc are featured in the Palace.


A part of the Palace has been turned into the Jivaji Rao Scindia Museum. I shall post some pictures of the Museum in my next post.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

looks like a real plush place! :)

Anonymous said...

Thankfully the palace appears to have been well maintained... unlike many others in India

Lakshmi said...

A post a day ..:) loved that elephant ..sometimes with all these royalty around...whoever said that India is a poor place

indicaspecies said...

Arun,

It is. It is said that the architecture is patterned along that of the Versailles. :)

indicaspecies said...

Shantanu,

It seems fairly well maintained, though I could see some flaws, especially in the area where the Scindia family dwells. :)

indicaspecies said...

Lakshmi,

In a mood for writing, but I know it won't last long. ;)

India is more rich, than poor, in more ways than we know. :)

Anonymous said...

When I was a kid, I always wanted to buy a house that was 100 BHK :P

indicaspecies said...

Priyank,

That's not impossible and I wish you the best. May all your dreams come true prince charming. ;)