Vadodara formerly
known as Baroda is the 3rd largest and most populated city in
state of Gujarat of India. Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant
Maharaja Sir, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur Maharaja
Gaekwad of Baroda GCSI, GCIE, KIH who ruled for
1875-1939 was the adopted son of Queen Jamnabai and Kashirao Gaekwad, has
constructed "The Laxmi Vilas Palace", naming it after his first wife.
He has brought about many reforms in education, health and administration.
Maharaja was one of the few princes who got a 21 gun salute.
The
city was ruled over a long time by many Sultans, until they were easily thrown
away by the Mughal emperors. The Mughals at that time was facing the
biggest problem of the mighty Marathas who slowly but eventually took
over the whole region. The city became the capital of the Maratha Maharaj
Gaekwad Sayaji Rao III , a most able ruler, made many public and bureaucratic
improvements in the region. He has appointed an English Resident to the Court
of Baroda, which shows that the ruler had a good equation with the British.
Although
the British had a major influence on the region, still Baroda remained a
princely state until Independence. It is very obvious that the wealth of the
family is legendary, and it shows in the works of art built in around 750
acres, the Palace is 4 times larger than the Buckingham Palace in UK. Designed
by British Architects, Major Charles Mount in the Indo-Gothic style, the work
started in 1878 and was completed in 1890,it took nearly 12 years of hard work
to complete the construction of this such a beautiful Place. The royal family,
under the current Maharaja Ranjit Singh Gaekwad still resides there.
