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Above pics: left, Maharaja Sayajee Rao III in durbar, seated centre couch- with English guests; right Laxmi Vilas Palace.
Above pics: left, Maharaja Sayajee Rao III in durbar, seated centre couch- with English guests; right Laxmi Vilas Palace.
There is a very interesting story behind this enormous palace. The Laxmi Vilas Palace is in Vadodara, or Baroda as it was previously called, this city situated in the western state of Gujarat, just south of Ahmedabad, largest city in Gujarat.
The Baroda princely state was founded by Pilaji Rao Gaikwad, a general in the Peshwa army(the Peshwas were the ministers of the Maratha Empire, founded by Shivaji the Great who was responsible for the ultimate debacle of the great Mughal Empire and who saved India from further islamisation by the Mughal emperor Auranzeb;after Shivaji, the real rulers of India were the Peshwas, the chief minister dynasty under the Mahratta kings.) Gujrat region, now a state of modern India, comprises of Gurati speaking peoples whereas the Baroda royal house, known as the Gaikwads, were Mahrathas and whose native language is spoken by the people of Maharashtra, south of Gujrat, who today are very proud that Mumbai is capital of their state,Maharashtra.
The Baroda royal family has a very interesting history. Baroda State was always in the forefront of development.But the builder of the Laxmi Vilas Palace, Sayajeerao III,who was an adopted son of the previous ruler,( see:http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/b/baroda.html....and adoption is done from family with the same distant ancestral roots.) was a very proud man and an ardent nationalist, viewed the British Empire of India with much reservation. When King George the V came to India and was facilitated at the Delhi Darbar(audience) , all the Maharajas had to bow before the King and walk backwards from the royal presence. But Sayajeerao simply nodded his head and turned and walked back to his chair....
(to view these forts and palaces and know a little about the people whose presence lingers on is worth the few lines here.)Maharaja Sir Sayajeerao III was recepient of an LLD. from Benaras Univ. and made Baroda a progressive state, with many achievements such as an University for Baroda; Maharaja Sir Pratapsingh Rao's daughter majored from Iowa Univ. USA., a qualified dietician and PHD. Maharaja Fatehsingh Rao II was a member of the Indian Parliament, a Minister of Health, Gujarat Govt, and President of Indian Cricket Board. The present ruler, Mah.Ranjitsingh Rao is also an elected Member of the Indian Parliament, and is a Doctorate from the Royal College of Arts, London, and a Indian classical music vocalist, he has succeded his elder brother, Fatehsinhrao.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroda -details on Baroda, history etc.
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