In the heart of Gujarat stands a palace so vast it overshadows both Buckingham Palace and Mukesh Ambani’s Antilia. Known as the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, it is the world’s largest private residence — and home to Radhikaraje Gaekwad, the Maharani of Baroda.
A Palace Beyond Comparison
Spread across 700 acres, the Lakshmi Vilas Palace is more than 50 times larger than Antilia and nearly 36 times the size of Buckingham Palace. Built in 1890 under Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, it originally cost ₹25 lakh to construct — an amount that translates to an estimated ₹25,000 crore in today’s value.
The palace houses 170 rooms, manicured gardens, a golf course, horse stables, a swimming pool, and cultural treasures like the Moti Bagh Palace and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum.
A Modern Royal in a Historic Home
Radhikaraje Gaekwad, who now presides over this estate, is not merely a custodian of grandeur. Educated in Indian and Medieval History at Delhi University’s Lady Shri Ram College, she once worked as a journalist and writer. Today, she champions heritage conservation, Indian textiles, and cultural preservation, bringing fresh relevance to the royal legacy she embodies.
The Gaekwad Dynasty Today
Her husband, Samarjitsinh Gaekwad — a former cricketer and head of the Gaekwad dynasty — inherited the estate in 2013 after a lengthy legal battle. The couple continues to live in the palace with their family, blending centuries-old traditions with the demands of contemporary life.
A Living Monument
The Lakshmi Vilas Palace remains an emblem of India’s royal past, yet it is also a lived-in home. While the global spotlight often shines on modern luxury towers like Antilia, the palace in Vadodara stands as a reminder that some symbols of wealth are also guardians of history.
At its core, it is not just the world’s largest private home — it is a living monument, sustained by a woman devoted to protecting its heritage.