Vijaya Vilas Palace

Vijaya Vilas Palace is the famous one time summer palace of Jadeja Rajas of Kutch located on sea-beach of Mandvi in Kutch, Gujarat, India.[1][2]

Vijay Vilas Palace

History

Vijaya Vilas Palace standing at sea shore of Mandavi

The palace was built during reign of Maharao Shri Khengarji III, the Maharao of Kutch, as a summer resort for the use of his son & heir to the kingdom, the Yuvraj Shri Vijayaraji and is therefore, named after him as Vijaya Vilas Palace. The construction of palace started in year in 1920 [3] and was completed in year 1929.[1][2][3] The palace is built with red sandstone. It has all the elements of Rajput architecture and draws largely on the plan of palaces of Orchha and Datia. The central high dome on the pillars, the Bengal domes on the sides, the windows with colored glass, carved stone 'jalis', domed bastions at the corners, extended porch and other exquisitely stone-carved elements, make the palace worth visiting. The palace is set in the middle of well-laid gardens with water channels and marble fountains. The carved stone works of Jalis, Jharokas, Chhatris, Chhajas, murals and many other artistic stone carvings, colored glass work on windows and door panels all have been done by the architect and craftsman from places like Jaipur, Rajasthan, Bengal and Saurashtra, and local Kutchi artisan community, the Mistris of Kutch and Suthars. The mixture and mingling of architect and style of different regions of India, as such, can be distinctly seen in design & architect of the Vijaya Vilas Palace.[1][2][3] The balcony at the top affords a superb view of the surrounding area. The tiny intricate windows gives one feeling to be out in open, through which cool sea wind passes out.[1][2][3]

A closer view of gate, one can see name plate - Vijaya Vilas - on top of entrance.

The campus also houses a Chhatri of Vijayaraji, who died in 1948, to whom this palace was very dear.

Present Status

Vijaya Vilas Palace has its own private beach which offers air-conditioned tented accommodation. The palace has been used as the set in many Hindi films and has now become a popular tourist destination. The shooting of many scenes and song of hit Bollywood film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was done at this palace.[4]

The royal family of Princely State of Kutch now reside permanently in the palace, who earlier used it only as a summer resort. It was after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake in which one of the wings of their other palace at Bhuj - the Ranjit Vilas was heavily damaged, they moved into Vijaya Vilas Palace. The Palace also houses a museum.[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vijaya Vilas Palace.
  1. 1 2 3 4 Vijay Vilas Palace, Mandvi
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Vijay Vilas Palace
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas: A Brief History and Glory by Raja Pawan Jethwa (2007)-Calcutta. Section II - Mistris of Kutch and architects built by them mainly in Princely State of Cutch.
  4. ↑ The palace is also known as Vijay Vilas Palace and has featured in Hindi movies, such as 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'. The famous song of this movie 'Chand Chupa Badal Mein' was shot at the Vijay Vilas Palace in Mandvi

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