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Vijaya Vilas Palace
Vijaya Vilas Palace
General information
Architectural style	Indo-Saracenic architecture
Town or city	Mandvi, Gujarat
Country	India
Construction started	1920
Completed	1929

Vijaya Vilas Palace is a summer palace of Maharao of Kutch located on the beach of Mandvi in Kutch, Gujarat, India.^[1]^[2]

History

The palace was built during the reign of Khengarji III as a summer resort for his son and heir to the kingdom, the Yuvraj Shri Vijayaraji, for whom it was named. Construction started in 1920^[3] and was completed in 1929.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Architecture

The palace was built with red sandstone. Its distinctive Rajput architecture largely refers to the plan of palaces of Orchha and Datia. It is designed with a central high dome on pillars, Bengal domes on the sides, windows with colored glass, carved stone jalis, domed bastions at the corners, an extended porch, and other stone-carved elements. The palace is set in the middle of gardens with water channels and marble fountains. The jalis, jharokas, chhatris, chhajas, murals, stone carvings, and colored glass work on windows and door panels were created by architects and craftsmen from Jaipur, Rajasthan, Bengal, and Saurashtra, as well as the local Kutchi artisan community, the Mistri and Suthars.^[1]^[2]^[3] The top balcony offers a complete view of the surrounding area. The windows ensure the feeling of being in the open space, with sea winds passing through.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Current status

Vijaya Vilas Palace has its own private beach. It offers overnight accommodation in a separate resort on the grounds. The royal family of Kutch State used to reside permanently in the palace after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake in which one of the wings of another palace at Bhuj - the Ranjit Vilas - was heavily damaged. Now, the Royals use the palace as a summer home. The second level is private and for their use. The Palace also houses a museum on the first level. The upper open terrace offers views of the area.^[2]

Front view of Vijay Vilas Palace
Vijaya Vilas Palace standing at sea shore of Mandavi
A closer view of the gate. One can read Vijaya Vilas above the entrance
Inside the palace
View from the balcony

In popular culture

Scenes from the Bollywood movies Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Lagaan, and Commando, as well as a number of Gujarati films, were filmed in this palace.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Vijay Vilas Palace, Mandvi Archived January 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Visitors Guide > Historical Monuments". www.asanjokutch.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d 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 Kutch.
^ HolidayIQ.com. "Mandvi tourism - Hotels, Sightseeing, Reviews & Photos - HolidayIQ". www.holidayiq.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-09. Retrieved 2017-05-03.