Vijay Vilas Palace, Mandvi - A Photo Essay !!!

I was writing my last post on Laxmi Vilas Palace of Vadodara and realised though I had written about Vijay Vilas Palace of Mandvi under collective, I had missed a dedicated post for all the pics I had clicked of it. So here is a photo essay of Vijay Vilas Palace, which I visited few years back.

Though Vijay Vilas is not as magnificent as Vadodara's Laxmi Vilas it was Ashutosh Gowariker's movies which made Kutch and Vijay Vilas Palace famous. Sets of his movies Lagaan and Mohenjo Daro were set in Kutch. The palace appeared as the British Royal residence in Lagaan and Aishwarya Rai's house in Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam. 

This redstone structure was built by Maharaja Rao Vijayrajji, the Maharaja of Kutch. The structure is built in Rajput style with traces of Bengal adding to its beauty. Being a summer retreat, the palace is small compared to other palaces of the region and houses few artefacts, furniture and photoframes

The palace is surrounded by thick green which shelters peacocks, jackals and wild ass. The top most floor has an arched balcony and gives beautiful view of the surrounding green.

Maharaja Vijayraji's Chhatri as seen from balcony

Mandvi Beach and Royal family private beach as seen from the top floor of the palace.

That seems like wild boar head, not sure though

Travel Tips

Vijay Vilas Palace is around 7km from Mandvi city and can be best reached by private vehicle. Its another half a km walk from the vehicle parking area to the palace.

Entry Fee

Regular Days 5 years to 11 years Rs. 15/-, above 11 years 30/-

Sundays and Public Holidays 5 years to 11 years Rs. 25/-, above 11 years 45/-

Mobile Camera Rs. 25/-

Still Camera Rs. 50/-

Video Camera 200/-

Timings

9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara - Signifying the Maratha rule in Gujarat!!!

Been visited to Vijay Vilas Palace of Mandvi, I thought Vadodara's Laxmi Vilas Palace was related to it. Only to understand, they both were no where related except for being in the same state of Gujarat. While Vijay Vilas Palace is of Jadega Rajas of Kutch, Laxmi Vilas is of Gaekwad, the Maratha family who ruled Baroda state, the present day Vadodara of Gujarat state.

On our trip to Ahmedabad and Vadodara, we reached Vadodara by 9 in the night and checked in to the OYO Rooms we had booked at Fatehjung road which was few minutes walk from Sayaji Baug. We had planned a two day stay at Vadodara, the first day for the city tour and the second to Pavagadh hills and Champaner. First day started with the visit to Laxmi Vilas Palace.

The palace was built in 1890 in Indo-Saracenic style by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. It still being the residence of the royal family, opens only a part to the public. You enter the palace through the back entrance of the palace, collect your audio guide if you wish and start your palace tour. After going through few of the exhibits inside the palace you are out to get the view of the main entrance of the palace which is on the opposite side. The stunning structure is so huge that its difficult to capture the entire structure in one frame. The beautiful greens and golf course makes the structure look even more beautiful.

The ground has many statues and structures, off which the marble peacock urn is very well known. 

Marble Peacock Urn in the palace ground

Palace tower as seen from Marble Peacock Urn 

A beautiful painting on the outer wall of the palace.

Intricate carving on the window wall on the upper floor of the palace

Watch for 2 crocodiles, 4 monkeys and bunches of grapes 

The palace has a huge collection of artefacts from different parts of the world, not to forget the original paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. The Durbar hall with chandeliers, stained glass window, Italian mosaic flooring has been the Bollywood hotspot with shoots going on most of the time. There is a cafeteria and souvenir shop too in the building. The palace compound also houses Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum and Moti Baug Palace both have separate entry gates from the main road and photography is strictly prohibited inside the palace and museum.

Travel Tips

Location

The palace is on the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, around 3.5km from Vadodara Bus stand and railway station. And around 9km from Airport. 

Entry Fee and timing

Palace 

Rs. 225/- for Indians and Rs. 400/- for Foreigners

10:00 am to 5:00 pm 

Closed on Mondays and Public Holidays

Palace Museum 

Rs. 80/ for Indians and Rs. 150/- for Foreigners 

10:30 am to 5:30 pm

Closed on Mondays and Public Holidays

'Little Chefs Workshop' with Amrita Kaur at Godrej Nature's Basket!!!

I have been associated with Godrej group for quite sometime. And Godrej Nature's Basket has been one of my favorite Food stores, for their variety and quality of food offered. Recently I was invited  to cover their Kids Workshop by Amrita Kaur at their Koregaon Park Store here in Pune. Being on her summer vacation kiddo didn't wanted to miss the workshop and were we both at their store last weekend. 

The recipes included Rainbow noodles Salad with Peanut butter dressing, Rainbow Nice Cream topped with nutty sprinkles and delicious Mango No-Bake Cheesecake Tart, easy, no flame colourful recipes which the kids really enjoyed whipping. Amrita wore Rainbow shades as well to go with the theme, and she made the workshop more interactive and interesting by giving kids nutrition, health and food vocab gyan.

No Bake Cheese Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 Packet digestive biscuits, crushed coarsely.
• Toasted nuts of your choice(almonds/pistachio/walnuts)
• 2-3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 pinch cardamom powder
• Pinch of Salt

For the cheesecake

• 1 cup cream cheese
• 1/2 cup whipped cream
• Fresh mango pulp + sliced for garnish
• 2 table spoos caster sugar
• Juice/zest of half a lemon
• Pinch of cardamom powder

Method

• Combine the crushed biscuits with the nuts, melted butter, cardamom powder and salt in a mixing bowl. Take a spoonful and press tightly on bottom tightly on bottom of a tart shell.
• Blend cream cheese, whipped cream mango puree, lemon juice & zest and cardamom powder and sugar using an electrical mix or a whisk until well combined. Top this cheesecake filling over the prepared tart crust and refrigerate.

Rainbow Noodles Salad(with peanut butter dressing)

Ingredients:

• 50g soba noodles, boiled as per package instruction.
• 1/2 cup mixed veggies, julienned(carrot, purple cabbage, spring onions, red & yellow bell peppers, raw mango)
• Few springs of fresh coriander.
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame tp sprinkle on top.

For Peanut Dressing

• 1 table spoon peanut butter
• Juice of a lemon
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce.
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 1/2 inch ginger grated
• Few tablespoons water(to thin the dressing)

Method:

• Toss all the Salad elements together veggies and noodles. Pour the prepared dressing over it and give it a good mix. Serve in a salad bowl with sesame and coriander on top.

Peanut Butter Dressing

Whisk all the ingredient together(Peanut butter, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, soy, honey, garlic, ginger and water as required)

Chef's Gyan: prepare dressing in glass jar, if excess can be stored and refrigerated for next use.

Rainbow Nice Cream

Ingredients

• 2 Bananas, sliced and frozen

For Variations

• 1 tablespoon fresh strawberries/raspberries
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon Blueberries
• 1 tablespoon fresh mango slices
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of cardamom powder
• Toasted nuts to top(almonds, pistachio & cranberries) finely chopped

Method

• Make sure that banana are ripe. Slice and freeze. When the bananas are fully frozen, toss them into a food processor or high speed blender and blend until you achieve a consistency that resembles soft serve ice cream
• Divide into 5 portions. Set one aside
• Add strawberries/raspberries to one & blend
• Add cocoa powder + vanilla to second & blend
• Add blueberries to the third & blend
• Finally mango slice & cardamom powder to the fourth and blend
• Transfer all the blended flavours in one big bowl. Cream swirl using a spoon. Make sure to not mix completely.

Note: If your blender is having trouble processing, you can add 1-2 tablespoons milk/nut milk/soy milk to make it easier.

All smiles with their Rainbow Nice cream

Armita's Veggie, Fruit Vocab Gyan

Avacado in Hindi - Makhan Phal

Jamun in English - Black Plum

Fruit with 1000 seeds - Strawberry

These are only ones I could recall ;)

The store also had a photo booth where kids got their framed photographs in chef look. All in all the day was well spent whipping some yummy colorful dishes with lovely chef.