Inside The Magnificent World Of Baroda's Royal Family: A Rs 24,000 Cr Palace, Four Times Bigger Than Buckingham Palace
Baroda's Royal Family:?We often hear about Reliance head Mukesh Ambani being one of the richest men in the world and living in his Rs 15,000 crore home in Mumbai, Antilia. Today, however, we will tell you about the Royal Family of Baroda. They reside in a palace four times the size of Buckingham Palace, own the first car invented by Karl Benz - the 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen. Since the early 18th century, the Gaekwads of Pune have ruled Baroda (now Vadodara).?
Who is HRH Samarjitsinh Gaekwad?
Born on April 25, 1967, Samarjitsinh Ranjitsinh Gaekwad is a former first-class cricketer and the only son of Ranjitsinh Pratapsinh Gaekwad and Shubhanginiraje. He completed his education at The Doon School in Dehradun. After his father's death, Samarjitsinh was crowned Maharaja in May 2012. The grand coronation ceremony took place on June 22, 2012, at Laxmi Vilas Palace.?
In 2013, he successfully resolved a longstanding inheritance dispute with his uncle Sangramsinh Gaekwad, making him the sole owner of Laxmi Vilas Palace.?
In 2002, Samarjitsinh married Radhikaraje, a member of the royal family of Wankaner State. They are blessed with two daughters.
Lakshmi Vilas Palace valued at approximately Rs 24,000
According to GQ India, With the Lakshmi Vilas Palace valued at approximately Rs 24,000 crore and their inherited funds totaling over Rs 20,000 crore, here's all you need to know about the Royal Family of Baroda.??
During his coronation, Samarjitsinh resolved an inheritance dispute with his uncle, Sangramsinh Gaekwad. This resolution led to his inheritance of the grand Lakshmi Vilas Palace, which spans 170 acres and includes 170 rooms, along with Moti Bagh Stadium, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, valuable Raja Ravi Varma paintings, and various gold, silver, and royal jewels that belonged to Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad, the Maharaja of Baroda from 1951 to 1988.
According to Financial Express, The palace is spread over 500 acres and is bigger than the Buckingham Palace, the residence of the English Royal family.
Owner Of Temple Trusts
Not just this, Samarjitsinh also oversees a temple trust that manages 17 temples in Gujarat and Banaras. He has an interest in politics and joined the BJP in 2014, although he has not been very active in politics since 2017.
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The Origins of the Gaekwad Dynasty
The Gaekwad rule in Baroda began in 1721 when Maratha general Pilaji Rao Gaekwad took the city from the Mughal Empire. Chhatrapati Shahu I of the Maratha Empire rewarded his family by granting Baroda as a jagir. After the Maratha defeat in the Battle of Panipat in 1761, several Maratha clans, including the Gaekwads, became nearly independent rulers. In 1802, the Maharajas of Baroda signed the Treaty of Cambay with the British, gaining local autonomy while recognizing British sovereignty, securing their rule until Indian independence in 1947.
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