VADODARA: The historic Indumati Palace, which has stood for 145 years, is a key landmark in the city. Currently owned by royal descendant Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, the palace is set to be enhanced with luxury apartments. The Gaekwads are planning to transform the area surrounding Indumati Palace, located across from the opulent Laxmi Vilas Palace, into a mixed-use residential and commercial complex.
“This will be the first residential complex in the nation to feature a grand palace,” Pratapsinhrao shared with TOI over the phone from Mumbai. “We will construct six 12-story buildings—two to the left, two to the right, and two behind the palace. Rest assured, the palace’s aesthetic and historical significance will remain intact.”
Furthermore, Pratapsinhrao stated, “We plan to restore the palace and convert it into a clubhouse with exclusive recreational facilities for residents. We aim to launch the project during the Ganesh festivities this month, with completion expected in three years.” His venture, Baroda Crown Holdings Pvt Ltd, is collaborating with Johnson Real Estate Pvt Ltd on this initiative.
A retail space is also proposed for what is currently the palace’s front yard. “We’ll have our own living space and an office in one of these buildings. Post-completion, I plan to be in Vadodara regularly and will work from here,” he added. Indumati Palace was originally constructed by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III and later named after his granddaughter, Indumati Raje.
The palace previously housed the royal library and served as the Gaekwad royal offices. The family traditionally celebrated the Ganesh festival by placing an idol in Indumati Palace until the celebration moved to Laxmi Vilas Palace’s Durbar Hall in 1967. Upon taking possession of the palace in 2014, Pratapsinhrao decided to resume the Ganesh festivities there.
“We will continue to install the Ganesh murti in Indumati Palace in the years to come. It’s a tradition that our family will uphold,” he noted. This is the second significant project undertaken by Pratapsinhrao in the city, following the establishment of the Nazarbaug Palace shopping mall near Mandvi Gate.
