Heritage Tours >> Forts and Palaces >> Lal Baug Palace

It is one of the grandest monuments the Holkar dynasty reflecting the taste, grandeur and lifestyle of the Holkars. It is the ancestral palace of the rulers. Many royal receptions were held here and at one time it contained one of the best rose gardens of the country.

A reflection of their taste, grandeur and life style, its construction began in 1886 under Tukoji Rao Holkar - II and completed in 1921 under Tukoji Rao - III.

It is a blend of the baroque and renaissance styles, and in its days was one of the most elegant residences in India. The Government of Madhya Pradesh is developing it as a cultural centre. The main attractions are the splendidly proportioned and furnished rooms, with frescoed ceilings and gilded ornamental mouldings..

The beauty:  
Though simple to look from outside, the magnificent interior takes one into a dreamland of past glory. The imposing gates of the palace are unique in Asia. A replica of the gates of Buckingham palace (London), about twice their size, were moulded in cast iron and shipped from England. They carry the Holkar state emblem, meaning, "He who tries will succeed".

The palace today:  
Currently this is the residence of Usha Raje, direct descendent of the Holkars, whose ancestral palace it used to be. The rooms have been restored and furnished to pleasing effect. Much of the furniture and ornamentation is in the late Regency, early Georgian style. It’s Italian marble columns, grand chandeliers, rich Persian carpets, flying nymphs on the ceiling, Belgium stained glass windows, Greek mythological relief's, Italian style wall paintings, a wooden ballroom floor mounted on springs, stuffed leopards and tigers are magnificent. The whole complex has a total area of 28 acres. Its uniqueness lies in the pantry and kitchen being situated across a rivulet with provision of a mechanical trolley. Now converted into a museum the palace has a rare and vast collection of old paintings and armoury on display.