The Laxmi Niwas Palace - A Fine Specimen of Indo-Saracenic Architecture :

Nestled between the lush green valleys, beautiful fountains and elegant lily ponds, Laxmi Niwas Palace is one of the most beautiful palaces in India. The palace, located in Bikaner, Rajasthan is a true master piece of Indo-Saracenic Architecture. It is totally carved out of red sandstone and is a major tourist attraction in Rajasthan. The opulent palace is the perfect blend of Rajasthani tradition that takes the visitors on a vintage tour.

History :

The Laxmi Niwas Palace was originally the personal residence of the Royal King of Bikaner, Maharaja Ganga Singhji. The rooms of the palace have been designed keeping in mind the needs of the royals; it is luxurious and was used only by the members of the royal family and the personal guests of the Maharaja who were of the same status. Every single room in the palace has lavish decorations that reflect the royal taste of the Maharaja in arts and aesthetics. The walls of the rooms are adorned with gold wall paintings and the ceilings made of wood have intricate carvings.

The palace was built between 1902 and 1926 in the Indo-Saracenic style. The building was commissioned by the British-controlled regency for Maharaja Ganga Singh (1881–1942) while he was still in his minority as they considered the existing Junagarh Palace unsuitable for a modern monarch. Ganga Singh decided that the palace should be named in memory of his father Maharaja Lall Singh.

In 1972, Karni Singh, M.P., the Maharaja of Bikaner, established the Ganga Singhji Charitable Trust. The Maharaja endowed a part of Lallgarh Palace to be used in service of the trust. Two wings were converted into independent hotels with the income from The Lallgarh Palace Hotel, a heritage hotel used to support the trust. Currently, Lallgarh Palace is owned, and the hotel is run, by his daughter Princess Rajyashree Kumari.

Architecture :

The complex was designed by the British architect Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. After a ritual blessing ceremony construction commenced in 1896 on empty land 5 miles from the existing Junagarh Fort on what is now Dr. Karni Singhji Road. The palace was arranged around two courtyards with the first and most impressive wing, Laxmi Niwas completed in 1902. The remaining three wings were completed in stages with final completion of the complex accomplished in 1926. Lord Curzon was the palace's first notable guest. Ganga Singh was legendary for his shikars (hunts) at his hunting preserve at Gajner, in particular, his Imperial Sand Grouse hunts at Christmas. As a result, the palace hosted many guests including Georges Clemenceau in 1920, Queen Mary, King George V, Lord Harding, and Lord Irwin.

The palace was originally designed to cost 100,000 rupees due to the planned use of cheaper materials including the suggestion of using stucco instead of carved stone in the construction. Soon however all cost-cutting was abandoned and by time of the completion of the first wing the cost had increased to 1 million rupees due to the use of the finest materials including the widespread employment of finely carved stonework.

The three-storey complex is coated in red sandstone quarried from the Thar Desert. The complex contains the features considered essential for a late 19th-century palace: drawing rooms, smoking rooms, guest suites, several grand halls, lounges, cupolas, pavilions, including a dining room which could seat 400 diners. The complex features magnificent pillars, elaborate fireplaces, Italian colonnades and intricate latticework and filigree work. The Karni Niwas wing houses the darbar hall and an art deco indoor swimming pool.

About Laxmi Niwas :

Maharaja Ganga Singh envisioned the palace and he personally overlooked the construction of the palace building. The design has intricate carvings right from the bottom to the highest point of the dome. The ‘Jali’ (stone) work done is simply stunning and is a huge hit among both the locals as well as the tourists. If someone visiting the palace for the first time, the motifs and floral decorations would surely leave mesmerized.

The fine and intricate lace work done on the edges of the stones on the roof was designed in a way that it looks as a glittering crown of the palace. One of the major highlights of the royal Laxmi Niwas Palace is that it has a huge and awe-inspiring main entrance. The clock tower at the entrance would take back in time and evoke memories of the old splendor and grandeur that Indian Maharajas were known for.

Today, the Royal Palace is turned into a Five Star Hotel and tourists would have to drive through long pathways that are flanked by lawns and rows of trees to reach the hotel. The grand Portico that extends from the gate exudes a warm feeling and welcomes the visitors in a royal way.

The huge garden area that is right at the centre of the palace coupled with the magnificent fountains is a great cynosure to the eye. The courtyard is surrounded by rows of columns along the corridors and they present an astonishing view that would keep the visitors’ attention arrested for long. Along the walls of the palace, would find rare trophies and images of the relics of the Rajputs.

The Laxmi Nivas Palace hotel still maintains the old and original paintwork that adorned the ceilings during the times of the Maharaja. Today, the rooms of the palace hotel have been refurbished to make it look more eclectic and suit the taste of the contemporary visitors. Tourists can find all the modern amenities in the hotel. Truly, the Laxmi Nivas Palace Hotel is the crowning glory of forts and palaces in Bikaner.

 Laxmi Niwas Palace is a part of Lalgarh Palace but it has been given on lease and recently is being used as a heritage hotel.