Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIGHTS SOUTH OF BHUJ
The Mandvi Vijaya Vilas Palace
A new day with time to head south of Bhuj to Mandvi, 60 kms/40 miles away. Mandvi,
a city in Kutch District of Gujarat, has a surrounding fort and 400-year old ship building
industry that still manufactures small ships. We pulled up to the Vijaya Vilas Palace, built
in 1675, by the Maharajah of Kutch as his summer palace. Parked, paid the admission fee,
and began a tour guided by one of the Maharajah's retainers taking careful note of the "no
spitting" sign.
P-r-e-t-t-y imposing. Unfortunately, the Maharajah of Kutch has to make do with 32 staff
now instead of the
400
he previously had. (We all have our little economies these days.)
Vijaya Vilas Palace is a riot of cupolas, overhangings, and projections, surrounded by huge
expanses of gardens. (The cupolas were my favorite.) His Highness Maharajah Vijay Singhji
ruled over Kutch in the 1940s and the extensive grounds cover 700 acres. There were once
even 50,000 coconut trees that have since died off from a disease. Good to be rich...yes?
The tour led through the main floor with overstuffed Victorian-a, office where the Ma-
harajah worked from dawn to afternoon, rooms for entertaining, old living quarters, photos
of the Maharajah and other miscellany before heading to the top level with a choice of either
the charming spiral, outside stairway or elevator. ( If the Maharajah didn't feel energetic, he
could take the elevator.)
Bright green parrots fluttered around the rooftop cupolas, and the Muslim shrine of Tama-
chipir could be seen in the distance.
