Caption: The front view of the palace (Photo courtesy - Wiki)
Hello dear all attendees…
I wish you all a very happy & extremely memorable trip and get-together along with the Royal Lunch!
Firstly, I thank our host @NareshDarji & co-host @Tejal for making this meetup possible - remember, this is a Google Approved Meet-up - I can understand the efforts even our LG @ashishdesai24 have taken to organise this.
Caption: Sur Sagar Lake, Vadodara.
What are you going to see?
Laxmi Vilas Palace (Lukmi Vilas or Lakshmi Vilas Palace)
Situated amid expansive gardens, mango orchards, and sprawling fields, this is the largest private home built till date. (built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890). A part of the palace is open to the public and a major portion of the palace is used by the Gaekwad family to stay.
Caption: The floral clock in Sayaji Baug.
What to see?
- The architecture is a fusion of different styles, showcasing intricate details, ornate carvings, and domes. It features an impressive Darbar Hall (really amazing) with a Venetian mosaic floor, stained glass windows, and ornate chandeliers.
- You can see an extensive collection of art, including paintings by renowned artists like Raja Ravi Varma along with a remarkable collection of sculptures, artefacts, and decorative items.
- Museum: The royal family’s personal possessions, artefacts, and historical memorabilia, explaining the rich history and culture of the region.
A very disappointing point is that photography is not allowed within the palace, though we can take photos outside the palace.
Caption: Durbar Hall (Photo: Wiki)
How to see?
Right at the reception, they give you an “Audio Guide” (very small) with a headset - it is better to request them to make it operational in your selected language as it is extremely small & little tricky in the beginning.
There are some 15 destinations & you can find the ‘number boards’ at the rooms/locations - kindly follow the same sequentially; of course, you can rewind to hear it again. The Audio Guide is to be given back, before exiting the palace.
Caption: A large idol of Lord Shiva in Vadodara (Request LG Ashish Desai to explain, please)
What is our tentative day schedule?
(13th August 2013; time in IST)
10:00 Welcome
10:30 Introduction
11:00 Welcome note
11:15 Instrumental music
11:30 Formal Local Guide discussions
12:00 to 1:00 Royal Lunch
1:00 to 2:30 Palace visit
2:30 to 3:30 Quiz and activities by Tejal
3:30 to 4:00 open discussions.
4:15 Group photos.
4:30 Google Meet for those who are free.
5:00 Concluding the meeting.
Caption: A board near the ticket counter.
IMPORTANT:
At 4:15, the following Google Meet link will be active & those who want to say hello can come online till 5 pm.
Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/pnx-odyp-ddq.
Location of Palace: Around 4 km from the railway station.
Hope this will be helpful to all.
@Kinjalchhaya @AnubhaBangia @Pratik_89 @Gurukrishnapriya @Anil6969 @ModNomad
