World’s largest house: Inside India’s Lakshmi Vilas Palace’s 500-acre royal estate in Vadodara and who owns it

Lakshmi Vilas Palace is spread across more than 500 acres in Vadodara, India, it is reportedly one of the largest houses in the world. The palace combines immense scale with exquisite detail, from sprawling gardens to grand halls, museums, and even a golf course.

Built in the late 19th century for the Gaekwad royal family, it reflects a unique blend of Indian tradition and European architectural influence. Walking through its vast courtyards and richly decorated rooms, visitors can almost sense the lifestyle, ambition, and culture of its former residents. It seems to capture both history and extravagance, making it a must-see for anyone intrigued by royal grandeur.

Inside Vadodara’s palace famed as the world’s largest home

Vadodara might seem like just another city, but the palace gives it a unique identity.

Built around 1890, it was the home of the Gaekwad family, rulers of the Baroda State. The city today still carries whispers of its royal past. Locals often speak with pride about the palace, and tourists reportedly get a sense of awe as they enter. Even the streets around it feel quieter, calmer, like the palace itself influences the rhythm of the city.The palace was designed by Robert Chisholm, a British architect known at the time.

Indo-Saracenic but basically it’s a blend of Indian domes, arches, and carvings with European touches with columns, grand halls, and symmetry. Walking through, your eyes catch tiny details: floral motifs carved into pillars, ceilings with intricate designs, and furniture that looks handcrafted down to the last inch. Some rooms are almost overwhelming in their grandeur.

Lakshmi Vilas Palace: Grand halls, priceless art, and innovation beyond its time

The property is approximately up to 500 acres including halls, courtyards, gardens, and museums.

The Darbar Hall alone is reportedly breathtaking, with royal thrones, paintings, and spaces designed for formal meetings and ceremonies. Move from one hall to another, from lush gardens to quiet courtyards. Some visitors reportedly spend hours exploring without seeing everything.At the time, the palace was surprisingly modern. Elevators, well-planned interiors, spacious European-style living areas. This 19th-century Indian palace with the library, books and manuscripts that experts say are invaluable.

Art is everywhere. Raja Ravi Varma painted several renowned works here, bringing divine imagery closer to people who might never have seen it otherwise. Sculptures, furniture, paintings, all echo the opulence and intellectual pursuits of the Gaekwad family.There’s even a golf course, built in the 1930s for European guests. Renovated in the 1990s and opened to the public, it’s still surrounded by the same royal charm. The grounds host events and cultural programmes, maintaining a connection between history and modern life. The Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum houses ceremonial objects, clothing, paintings, and sculptures.