Balaram Palace

Garden Palace

Darbargadh Poshina Palace

Raj Mahal Palace

Nilambagh Palace

Gopnath Sea-side Retreat

Royal Oasis

Rajwant Palace

Utelia Palace

BALARAM PALACE

This was the former forest palace of the Lohani Nawab family, who ruled Jalore for nearly 14 generations from the late 14th century onwards. The palace was erected in the 1930s during the rule of Sir Talej Muhammad Khan, 20th Jalori Nawab of Palanpur, who also commissioned the Kirti Stambha (tower of victory), Zorawar City Palace and King George V Club in Palanpur. The palace is surrounded by forests, which extend into the Balaram Ambhaji and Jessore Wildlife Sanctuaries, and 13 acres of green hills are part of the private palace estate. The Balaram Palace has been renovated to its former grandeur with a lavish Nawabi style garden, lawns for parties, swimming pool, indoor games, multi-gym health club, restaurant, conference hall, board meeting room and other deluxe facilities.

HOW TO REACH THERE

Balaram Palace Resort is located 167 kms. from Ahmedabad, 14 kms. from Palanpur station. It is 3 kms. off the Ahmedabad-Mount Abu National Highway-14. It is a very convenient stopover between Ahmedabad and Destination of Rajasthan. Balaram Resort Palace Village Chitrasani, Off. Ahmedabad - Mount, Abu National Highway-14. District Banaskantha.

GARDEN PALACE

The Garden palace is a set of fine gardens, agricultural fields and orchards. Nawab Saheb Manovar Khanji Babi built it in 1883. The Garden Palace serves meal in a typical Nawabi period ambience; made from homegrown vegetables, milk from the palace dairy and chicken from its poultry.

HOW TO REACH THERE

Balasinore is 86 kms. from Ahmedabad, and is a possible stopover between Ahmedabad and the destinations of Malwa such as Mandu, Dhar, Indore and Ujjain. Garden Palace Balasinore, District Kheda, Phone : 02690-62008.

DARBARGADH POSHINA PALACE

The rulers of Poshina were descendants of the Chalukyas, who ruled much of Gujarat and Central India in the 12 th century. The Darbargadh was once the pride of the Chalukya dynasty. This palace has huge gateways, a massive dome, numerous pillars and arches. It offers pleasant courtyards, gardens, lawns, shady trees and terraces with views of the Arravalli mountains. Ancient fort walls and the old prison are reminders of the property?s history.

HOW TO REACH THERE

Poshina is located 51 kms. from Abu road station, 140 kms. from Udaipur, 180 kms. from Ahmedabad, Poshina is a possible stopover between Ahmedabad and the destinations of Rajasthan such as Mount Abu, Rankapur, Udaipur. Darbargadh Poshina Village Poshina, Via Khedbrahma, Dist. Sabarkantha.

RAJ MAHAL PALACE

The Rajmahal Palace was built in the 19th century by HH Bal Sinhji and was earlier called Bal Vilas Palace. It is located in 13-14 acres of park-like grounds with tennis courts, lily ponds, fountains, out houses and cricket pitches. The centerpiece is a beautiful pillared courtyard with marble statues. There is a marvelously appointed Darbarhall with painted ceilings, king-sized portraits and a throne. There are beautifully restored vintage cars and a library of automobile books.

HOW TO REACH THERE

It is 20 kms. from Viramgam station and 120 kms. from Ahmedabad airport. The Rajmahal Palace Wadhwan, Dist. Surendranagar Phone : 02752-51004

NILAMBAGH PALACE

Set among 40,000 feet of luxuriant lawn, groves and gardens, the Nilambagh was built in 1895/6 by William Emerson. The entrance is a pillared porch with Gothic arches and an austere period piece reception counter that opens onto a lobby of sofas, exotically colored carpets, life-size portraits, antique furniture, stuffed leopards and mounted trophies. From here one enters a paved courtyard, surrounding a fountained pleasure pool, around which the palace was erected. The 26 double bedrooms, including 2 executive suites, are furnished lavishly with period furniture.

HOW TO REACH THERE

Nilambagh Palace Bhavnagar. Phone : 0278-424241 Fax : 428072 Email : simki@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in

GOPNATH SEA-SIDE RETREAT

Gopnath Bungalow was the seashore retreat of the royal family of Bhavnagar. Built in a European colonial style with cottages and mansions surrounding a courtyard, the whole complex faces the sea. The tidal waves here are among the largest in the world. Blessed with lovely white sand beaches it is a nature lover?s paradise. You can see marine life in the rocky shoals, extensive coastal bird life including oystercatcher and plovers, stripes hyena and jackal in the coastal scrublands.

HOW TO REACH THERE

Gopnath is 89 kms from Bhavnagar and can be slotted between Bhavnagar and Diu. It can also be used as a base to visit the Jain temples of Palitana and the sights of Bhavnagar. Gopnath Bungalow Dist. Bhavnagar. Ph. : 0278-424241 Fax : 428072

ROYAL OASIS

The Royal Oasis and the Residency are located in the erstwhile princely state of Wankaner. The palace is a stupendous work of Venetian-Gothic architecture in an oriental vein, with arches, balconies, marble biradaris and pillared porticoes. The interiors are equally delightful in their profusion of Italian marble, stained glass windows, European chandeliers, French crystal, Belgian glass, Burma teak furniture, Persian rugs, custom woven Mirzapur carpets, magnificent drawing room.

HOW TO REACH THERE

Wankaner railway station is connected by trains to Bombay. The Palace is at a distance of one-hour from Rajkot airport and a popular midway stopover between Ahmedabad and Bhuj. Royal Oasis & Residency Taj Palace, Wankaner, Dist. Rajkot

RAJWANT PALACE

The Rajwant Palace Resort is a part of the 7 acre Vijayraj palace complex constructed for Maharajah Vijay Singhji in 1915. The palace resembles a typical European mansion, with its Romanesque dome, classical columns, Greek capitals, and Venetian doors, Gothic arches. The interiors are appointed in original period furniture. A few rooms of the palace are set aside for a museum of trophies, stuffed animals, mirrors, portraits, textiles, glass and ceramics.

HOW TO REACH THERE

Rajwant Palace Resort Rajpipla, Dist. Bharuch Phone : 02640-20345/20973 Fax : 02640-20071 Fax : 428072

UTELIA PALACE

Around 150 kilometers from Baroda, 78 kilometers from Ahmedabad and en route to Bhavnagar, the Palace Utelia is a grandiose turn-of-the-century haveli (mansion), which is specially imposing when compared to the hutments that crowd its high walls. The architectural style is predominantly Indo-Saracenic, and includes domes, pillars, arches and Gujarati haveli style facades.

HOW TO REACH THERE	The Palace Utelia is 78 kms from Ahmedabad, 5 kms from Lothal Burkhi railway station. It is 4 kms off the Ahmedabad-Bhavanagar highway. Village Utelia via Lothal Burkhi, District Ahmedabad - 382 230. Gujarat Phone : 02714-62222. Fax : 079-6445770
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