Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Orchard Palace Hotel in Gondal
It's hard to imagine a more special feeling in India, than pulling up to a gate with a
Ma-
harajah's crest
. Opened by a guard in uniform, Desheret swept up to the entrance of Orch-
ard Palace Hotel (heritagehotelsofindia.com). Humungous suites inside the palace added to
the “Queen for a day” feeling.
There were 18 huge, high-ceilinged rooms with elegant, period furniture. The bathroom
was the size of our bedroom at home with hot showers, and a big bathtub. Unfortunately, the
"hot" water disappointed. Approximately 3 inches of hot water accumulated in that gorgeous
bathtub before the water turned cold. How sad...
We were the only guests, and had the entire palace to ourselves. A bottle of wine with
lunch would have made this experience perfect if only Gujarat wasn't dry. It
was
slightly in-
timidating having servants, who also wait on the Maharajah, at our disposal. The present-day
Maharajah was at home in his private quarters (off-limits to guests). He currently makes-do
with only
70 servants
, a swimming pool, squash courts, rowing on the lake, a Classic Car
Collection, and private railroad car. Life is tough, isn't it?
The two of us ate lunch in a spacious dining room around a table that had room for
20 diners, filled with antiques, miniature paintings, and grandiose furniture. When a person
grows in a one-bathroom, Chicago apartment with
six
other family members, the Palace was
more
than slightly intimidating. ex-Marine (who had 7 brothers and sisters), and Travels
With Sheila rose to the occasion.
Yummy, yummy food was served. Chicken (they serve vegetarian and non-vegetarian at
the Orchard Palace Hotel), potatoes with peas, cauliflower, rice, chapatis, and jelly roll for
dessert. Lunch over, it was time to visit the Royal Garages with its extensive collection of
vintage and classic cars.
The Royal Classic Car Collection
The Maharajah of Gondal has his own Classic Car Collection attached to the Orchard Palace
Hotel with, I imagine, a dedicated servant who just cares for them. A short walk across the
lawn to the Royal Garages where another servant raised garage door after garage door. It was
time to ooh and aah over fabulous cars that I've only glimpsed in photographs, or movies,
while others, I didn't know existed. One was a gorgeous, bright orange, 1930 Delage; con-
sidered by many as "The Delage,” designed by Maurice Gaultier. This company was foun-
ded in 1905 by Louis Delage.
A 1947 top-of-the-line Frazer (Kaiser-Frazer product), with a postwar body style - 1947
Buick convertible, 1935 Packard, 1935 Ford convertible, Rolls Royce, 1930 Daimler, race
cars, old Mercedes, 1947 Studebaker, Lincolns - the garage was filled to the brim. The most
