Ranjit Vilas Palace, Wankaner, Gujarat India

The Ranjit Vilas Palace in Wankaner speaks volumes about the passion that the Royals of Wankaner had for art, architecture and engineering. Designed in the year 1907 by Maharaja Amarsinghji, the palace is a mix of varied architectural styles and stands majestically atop a hill, overlooking the beautiful town of Wankaner. It showcases beautiful Gothic arches, a majestic clock tower with a Mughal dome, Franco-Italian window panes, oriental balconies and more. Though the members of the royal family reside at the palace, a part of the edifice has been converted into a museum of masterpieces, armaments and artifacts and is open to public.

Ranjit Vilas Palace is located in Wankaner in the Indian state of Gujarat. The royal Palace was built in 1907 A.D after its construction commenced in 1900s. Amarsinhji took the initiative of building the Ranjit Vilas Palace. The Ranjit Vilas Palace is located on a hill that overlooks the Wankaner town. The Palace was named and inaugurated by his dear friend Jam Ranjitsinhji of Jamnagar. It took almost seven years to build the palace. The ground of the palace extends to two hundred and twenty five acres. Chandra Bhavan which is the state guesthouse is also located in the same campus in the vicinity of the Ranjit Vilas Palace.

Ranjit Vilas Palace has a remarkable collection of swords, shields and daggers, 95 species of stuffed animals, dueling pistols, pig sticking spears, silver, linen chests, silver-plated howdahs, thrones, paintings and portraits. The palace has magnificent spiraling marble staircase, stained glass galleries, chandeliers and period furniture. The garage, on the grounds of the palace has Vintage cars like the 1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, some imposing American cars and horse drawn carriages. The palace also has a stable of Kathiawadi horses. There are large grounds with striking Italianate fountains. The Ranjit Vilas Palace has now been turned into a Heritage Hotel of Gujarat. The hotel is a majestic royal retreat that summons history buffs, leisure travelers and other tourists. There are 24 rooms at Ranjit Vilas Palace. Every room at this royal retreat are named after ruling prices, the Duke of Connaught, a viceroy, father of Mahatma Gandhi and the very first Governor-General of the country. The palace indeed in worth visiting and has been a famous tourist spot.