Bhavnagar - a city that houses royalty in its air and gives the common man a pair of regal wings. This city has ventured beyond the typical and offered its residents a platform of rich heritage. Known not only for its local cuisine, but also for its traditional dance dialects, Bhavnagar is an artsy home that hasn't forgotten its roots.
A closer look at this city's heritage and there are glimpses of history shimmering and brimming with grandeur and regality. Bhavnagar was the Gohil Capital in 1723 and one of the first princely states to join the notion of an Independent India.
A modern definition of such royalty blended with contemporary luxury is the Nilambag Palace Hotel. In 1879, H. H. Takhatsinhji of the Bhavnagar Royal Family,
commissioned the German Architect Simms to construct a royal magnificence. The end result was a beautiful Rajula stone structure, with Colonial Architecture.
Boasting of Anglo-Indian style of architecture, Nialmbag retains its carvings offering an indulgence in its princely aura. This beautiful structure is intact with its royal design and vintage architecture, yet serving with modern functionality and being easily accessible with the Airport just 6 kms away and the railway station 2.3 kms away
In its transition of being a home for the royal family to being a stay for people wanting a palatial experience, Nilambag has maintained every bit of its royal heritage. The Maharaja and Maharani Suites are the same ones that the then Maharaja.
Krishnakumar Sinhji and Maharani Vijayaba Saheb stayed in Apart from these, the Palace Hotel also offers Cottage Rooms, a fine blend of ethnic culture and ethos with modern Buxury-offering a total of 20 rooms and 7 cottages to choose from. Each room, no matter the variant chosen, speaks of royal tales and regal aura.
Any regal extravaganza is incomplete without a sumptuous feast from the royal kitchens. Enjoy the delicacies at the heritage Darbar dining hall inside the Nilambag palace. On a confirmed reservation specially curated dishes from the erstwhile royal family menu can be served by the Chefs of Niambag There is also an alfresco dining option at Neelam Garden Restaurant.
After setting the taste buds one would definitely like to sweat it out. Nilambag has got you covered on that too. There is a state of the art fitness centre at the palace premises and also a Roman bath style swimming pool. In one comer of the palace, there is an in-house boutique called Mrignayani which houses local handicrafts. Don't forget to take over a souvenir with a memory of lifetime.
Admirable Attractions:
Joining the historical significance of the Palace is the Bhavnagar Heritage Preservation Society, an Institution with an aim to initiate local awareness in matters of govemance pertaining to preservation of heritage and boosting tourism through it. One of the most remarkable activity is its Heritage Walk, providing a glimpse of the rich sites this city has to offer.
The Darbar Gadh: the place of power that helped structure the development of the city.
The Darbari Kothar: where the State granules were stored. The Krishnakumarsinhji Town Hall: that speaks of royal architectural importance. The Ganga Deri: a soothing marble memorial palace with a lakefront setting
If one chooses to venture beyond this walk, places like the Victoria Park - the oldest manmade forest in India, Blackbuck Sanctuary at Velavadar, the Barton Library - the oldest library in Gujarat, and the Alang Ship-Breaking yard - the largest ship breaking yard in the world - provide a space to explore diverse facets of the city and State. The Ro-Ro Ferry has also started its operations offering ease of travel and minimising commute time.
As an extension of offering the royal lifestyle, there is the Gopnath bungalow, a seaside resort and the summer palace of erstwhile royals, as a weekend getaway for contemporary plans. A visit to any of these properties surrounds one with grace of royalty and grounds one with magnificent display of intricate and thoughtful work by artisans and craftsmen of the time.
All of these regale stories of royalty, reminding us of the heritage residing and blending with the common man - a philosophy deeply rooted in the Bhavnagar roots.
It isn't uncommon for palaces to display its air of royalty and feature as stays and provide a palatial experience. But the differentiating factor of this conversion is its priority of uniting the city and implementing a democratic ownership by including locals and their rationale in palace affairs.
- Inputs from Yuvraj Jaiveerrajsinh Gohil
- Source by - Khushboo Gujarat Ki Magazine.
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