Jai Vilas Palace, Gwalior Information With History & Entry

As soon as Gwalior is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is the amazing Gwalior Fort and the resonant melody of Maa Vaishno Devi. But Gwalior’s glory is not just limited to this. Gwalior, located on the banks of the Yamuna River, houses another historical gem – Jai Vilas Palace. This palace is special not only for its grand architecture, but also for containing the history of the Scindia royal family. So let us travel today in the history of Jai Vilas Palace, and listen to the stories that are hidden in the walls of this palace:

Jai Vilas Palace, Gwalior: History

The credit for building Jai Vilas Palace goes to Maharaja Jayajirao Scindia of Gwalior. In 1874, Jayajirao started the construction of this grand palace. It is said that Jayajirao was very impressed by the royal palaces of Europe, and he wanted to build a similar luxurious palace in Gwalior. This palace was completed in 1886 after spending about 10 years and more than 1 crore rupees. Today, the value of this palace is said to be around 4 thousand crores!

Inspired by Europe, Reflecting India

The most special thing about Jai Vilas Palace is its architecture. It was designed by the famous Italian architect Sir Michael Filoz. Therefore, you will find a clear influence of European style in the design of the palace. But not only Europe, glimpses of Indian architecture have also been beautifully included in this palace. For example, you can see Meenakari work and Indian paintings in many rooms of the palace.

The Pride of the Court

Jai Vilas Palace was not only the residence of the royal family, but the court was also held here. The palace’s Darbar Hall is so huge that hundreds of people can sit comfortably here at a time. It is said that during the court, two huge chandeliers were lit in the hall, which weighed two tons each! The entire court used to glow in the light of these chandeliers.

Elephants even climbed the roof!

An interesting story related to Jai Vilas Palace is that when the palace was being built, King Jayajirao was worried about whether the roof was strong enough to bear its weight? To overcome this worry, he did a unique test. He ordered that 8 elephants be made to climb on the roof of the palace. And luckily the roof did not move at all! In this way it was proved that the roof of the palace is completely strong.

A Museum Encompassing History

Today, Jai Vilas Palace is the residence of the Scindia royal family as well as a magnificent museum. 35 rooms of the palace have been converted into a museum, where you can see weapons, jeweled jewellery, royal costumes and historical documents related to the Scindia dynasty.

A Glimpse of Royal Grandeur

While roaming around Jai Vilas Palace, you will get a glimpse of royal grandeur in every corner. Be it the high ceiling of the Darbar Hall, the shining marble floors, or the gold plated doors – everything is so grand that you will be stunned. It is said that there is a room in the palace whose walls are completely decorated with glass plates. The shine of these plates is so intense that one has to close his eyes!

Hospitality for Foreign Guests

Jai Vilas Palace was not only the residence of the Scindia royal family, but was also used to host foreign guests. It is said that many royal guests like the Prince of Wales and Nicholas II have stayed here. Special rooms were made in the palace for their stay, which were decorated in European style. Looking at these rooms, it seems as if you are roaming in a European palace!

Secrets of the Past

Jai Vilas Palace, apart from its grand rooms and royal items, also holds some secrets. Some parts of the palace are still closed for the common people. It is said that the treasure of the Scindia royal family is hidden in these closed rooms, which includes gold coins, diamonds, jewels and priceless artifacts. However, no one knows whether this is just a story or the truth.

Pride of Gwalior

Jai Vilas Palace is an important part of the history and pride of Gwalior. This palace not only attracts tourists, but also tells the stories of the reign of the Scindia dynasty. So the next time you visit Gwalior, do visit Jai Vilas Palace. Travel through the corridors of history and capture the image of royal pomp in your heart.

Jai Vilas Palace Architecture

Maharaja Jayajirao Scindia, who built it, was a fan of European palaces. That’s why an Italian architect designed it in European style. Each floor of this three-storey palace has a unique charm. Looking at the first floor, you will feel like you have come to Italy’s Tuscany region, while the second floor reminds you of Italy’s Doric style. On the other hand, looking at the top floor, you will say – this is India! It is inspired by the Corinthian style, but Indian artisans have put their magic in it.

The real beauty of Jai Vilas Palace is the carving and enamel work inside. While roaming inside the palace, you will feel as if India’s intimacy has been engraved on the walls of the palace to welcome foreign guests!

Jai Vilas Palace Durbar Hall

The Darbar Hall of Jai Vilas Palace gives the feeling of being lost in time. It is such a huge hall that just imagine when the royal court would have been decorated, the nobles would have come dressed up and grand feasts would have been held. Even today, that glory is reflected on the walls of the hall. I remember those chandeliers weighing two tons, which used to light up the court once! The guides tell that once 10 elephants could fit here, knowing this is unbelievable!

Jai Vilas Palace Museum

The museum of Jai Vilas Palace is a small part of the treasure of the monarchy. While roaming in this museum spread over 35 rooms, you can see the history of the Scindia dynasty closely. Weapons decorated with jewels, silk clothes of the kings, those everyday things – all these together tell the story of that era. If you look carefully, you might hear Maharaja Jayajirao’s laughter or the clinking of Rani Lakshmibai’s sword!

Queens of Jai Vilas Palace

While roaming around the palace, you will find that everything is so grand that you feel like becoming a queen. It is said that furniture was specially ordered from Italy for the queens here. Even today that furniture enhances the beauty of the palace. Imagine, the queens would have sat on these sofas, drinking tea and chatting!

Things to See in the Jai Vilas Palace and Museum

Silver Rail: There is a special dining table in the dining room, on which silver tracks are laid. When guests used to come, a small train used to run on these tracks, which used to serve the plates!

Elephant on the roof: While building this palace, King Jayajirao was worried about whether the roof was so strong? So he ordered that 8 elephants be made to climb the roof. This story is still one of the unique stories of the palace.

The magic of Meenakari: You will be mesmerized by the work of Meenakari on the walls of the palace. The artworks made with such fineness and beauty will captivate your heart!