Vijay Vilas Palace, Mandvi - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 8 km from Mandvi Bus Stand, Vijay Vilas Palace is a royal palace located in the port town of Mandvi in the Kutch district of Gujarat. It is one of the popular palaces in Gujarat and one of the must-visit places of sightseeing in Mandvi.

Also known as Mandvi Palace, Vijay Vilas Palace was built during the reign of Maharao Shri Khengarji III as a summer resort for the use of his son Shri Vijayaraji and is, therefore, named after him as Vijaya Vilas Palace. The construction of the palace was started in 1920 and was completed in 1929. The royal family of Kutch State now resides permanently in the palace after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake in which one of the wings of their other palace at Bhuj - the Ranjit Vilas was heavily damaged.

Set in the middle of 450 acres of well-laid gardens with water channels and marble fountains, the palace is noted for its traditional Rajasthani style architecture. Draws largely on the plan of Orchha and Datia palaces, the palace, built with red sandstone, has a high central dome, Bengal domes at the sides, bastions at the corner, and an extended porch. It is decorated with colored glass windows and carved stone jails. The carved stone works of Jalis, Jharokas, Chhatris, murals, and many other artistic stone carvings all have been done by architects and craftsmen from places like Jaipur, Rajasthan, Bengal and Saurashtra, and the Mistris of Kutch and Suthars. The walls of the palace are decorated with hunting trophies and paintings dating back to the reign of Rao Vijayaraji. The balcony on the top floor offers a superb view of the surrounding area.

The palace houses a museum and the Chhatri of Vijayaraji, who died in 1948. The Palace also has its own 2 km long section of private beach and a sanctuary maintained in an eco-friendly manner to preserve its pristine beauty. In this sanctuary, one can see blue bulls, jackals, and occasional chinkara. One can also see peacocks frolicking in the palace grounds as well as partridges and other birds of the forest during your Mandvi tour. This palace has been used as a setting in many Hindi films and has now become a popular tourist destination.

The erstwhile royal family now offers accommodation in a tented resort at the beach site. The resort has been designed to look like a royal guest camp keeping with the location in the palace estate, with each tented room featuring British colonial style wooden furniture, modern bathrooms, and a patio. The thatched open-sided restaurant on the beachside has an unending sea view and barbecues. Other beach facilities include a volleyball court, deck chairs, and shady sitting arrangements.

Timings: 9 AM to 1 PM & 3 PM to 6 PM

Entry Fee: Rs. 20 for Person, Rs. 50 for Camera & Rs. 10 for Vehicle