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{{Short description|Principal palace in Gujarat, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2022}}
[[File:Wankaner-palace.png|thumb|right|The Ranjit Vilas Palace, Wankaner]]

'''Ranjit Vilas Palace''' is the principal [[palace]] and, until 2012, the residence of the royal family of the [[Wankaner State|princely state of Wankaner]] in what is now the Indian state of [[Gujarat]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ranjit Villas Palace, India |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/wankaner/attractions/ranjit-villas-palace/a/poi-sig/1557648/1341712 |website=lonelyplanet.com |publisher=Lonely Planet |access-date=8 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170447/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/wankaner/attractions/ranjit-villas-palace/a/poi-sig/1557648/1341712 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Rupani |first1=Bob |title=Driving Holidays in India |year=2005 |publisher=Rupani Media |page=187 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ngRuAAAAMAAJ&q=ranjit+vilas+palace+wankaner |access-date=8 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010163757/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Driving_Holidays_in_India/ngRuAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=ranjit+vilas+palace+wankaner&dq=ranjit+vilas+palace+wankaner&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Location ==
The palace is located atop a hill in the Gadhio Hills and overlooks both the town of [[Wankaner]] and the [[Machchhu River]].<ref name="itapril2007">{{cite news |last1=Mahurkar |first1=Uday |title=Maharana Pratapsinh Jhala: The grand old man of Indian royality [sic] celebrates his 100th birthday |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/heritage/story/20070430-maharana-pratapsinh-at-his-100-748814-2007-04-30 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=India Today |date=30 April 2007 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170452/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/heritage/story/20070430-maharana-pratapsinh-at-his-100-748814-2007-04-30 |url-status=live }}</ref> The palace estate covers an area of {{convert|225|acre}} and has on its grounds the erstwhile [[Residencies of British India|British Residency]], several bungalows, a garage housing a collection of [[vintage car]]s and [[Horse-drawn vehicle|buggies]] and a stable for [[Kathiawari horse]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Oasis Wankaner |url=https://www.gujarattourism.com/saurashtra/morbi/royal-oasis-wankaner.html |website=gujrattourism |access-date=8 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908171056/https://www.gujarattourism.com/saurashtra/morbi/royal-oasis-wankaner.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Saad |title=The Palatial Wonderland: On the bend of the Machhu river in Wankaner, two palaces take you to a rich royal past |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/destination-of-the-week/on-the-bend-of-the-machhu-river-in-wankaner-gujarat-two-palaces-take-you-to-a-rich-royal-past-4815227/ |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=27 August 2017 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170446/https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/destination-of-the-week/on-the-bend-of-the-machhu-river-in-wankaner-gujarat-two-palaces-take-you-to-a-rich-royal-past-4815227/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== History ==
Construction of the palace began in 1907 and its foundation stone was laid by the [[Jam Sahib|Jamsaheb]] of [[Nawanagar State|Nawanagar]], Ranjitsinhji, after whom the palace is named.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ranjitsinh |first1=M. K. |title=A Life with Wildlife: From Princely India to the Present |date=10 May 2017 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-93-5264-423-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IGYlDwAAQBAJ&dq=ranjit+vilas+palace+wankaner&pg=PT9 |access-date=8 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010163833/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/A_Life_with_Wildlife/IGYlDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ranjit+vilas+palace+wankaner&pg=PT9&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=uday/> Ranjitsinhji was a close friend of the [[Maharana]] of Wankaner, [[Amarsinhji Banesinhji]], who is thought to have designed the building.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Raulet |first1=Sylvie |last2=Garde |first2=Anne |title=Maharajas' Palaces: European Style in Imperial India |year=1997 |publisher=P. Wilson |isbn=978-0-85667-482-2 |page=214 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X7cyAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Giving+instructions+to+the+Chief+Engineer%22 |access-date=8 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010163732/https://books.google.com/books?id=X7cyAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Giving+instructions+to+the+Chief+Engineer%22 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gallagher |first1=John |title=India: A Photographic Journey |year=2006 |publisher=Barnes & Noble |isbn=978-0-7607-7335-2 |page=139 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M0qR9918LEMC&q=ranjit+vilas+wankaner |access-date=8 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010163743/https://books.google.com/books?id=M0qR9918LEMC&q=ranjit+vilas+wankaner |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Lopez |first1=Annabel |last2=Collaco |first2=Bevinda |title=The Guide to the Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent |year=2004 |publisher=Architecture Autonomous |isbn=978-4-88706-141-5 |page=295 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ChVQAAAAMAAJ&q=ranjit+vilas+wankaner |access-date=8 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010163801/https://books.google.com/books?id=ChVQAAAAMAAJ&q=ranjit+vilas+wankaner |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=uday>{{cite news |last1=Mahurkar |first1=Uday |title=An old maharaja reminisces about Gandhiji and gentleman cricketers |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/offtrack/story/20001009-an-old-maharaja-reminisces-about-gandhiji-and-gentleman-cricketers-778202-2000-10-09 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=India Today |date=9 October 2000 |language=en |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170447/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/offtrack/story/20001009-an-old-maharaja-reminisces-about-gandhiji-and-gentleman-cricketers-778202-2000-10-09 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="itapril2007" /> It served as the residence of the royal family of Wankaner until 2012. The building suffered much damage in the [[Gujarat earthquake of 2001]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Saad |title=The Palatial Wonderland: On the bend of the Machhu river in Wankaner, two palaces take you to a rich royal past |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/destination-of-the-week/on-the-bend-of-the-machhu-river-in-wankaner-gujarat-two-palaces-take-you-to-a-rich-royal-past-4815227/ |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=27 August 2017 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170446/https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/destination-of-the-week/on-the-bend-of-the-machhu-river-in-wankaner-gujarat-two-palaces-take-you-to-a-rich-royal-past-4815227/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Architecture ==
The palace was designed by the Maharana of Wankaner and is a mix of several [[styles of architecture]] including the [[Venetian Gothic architecture|Venetian-Gothic]], [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]], [[Mughal architecture|Mughal]] and [[Rajput architecture|Rajput styles]].<ref name=":0" /> The three-storeyed building features a Venetian-Gothic façade, carved [[jharokha]] balconies which are a feature of Rajput palaces, [[Pointed arch (architecture)|gothic arches]] and [[Doric column]]s and Franco-Italian windowpanes. There is an Italianate [[marble]] fountain in the front garden.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Mulchandani |first1=Anil |title=Royal retreats |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20080602-royal-retreats-736373-2008-05-22 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=India Today |date=22 May 2008 |language=en |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170446/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20080602-royal-retreats-736373-2008-05-22 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Blasi |first1=Abigail |last2=Noble |first2=Isabella |last3=Benanav |first3=Michael |last4=Brown |first4=Lindsay |last5=Elliott |first5=Mark |last6=Harding |first6=Paul |last7=Kaminski |first7=Anna |last8=Mahapatra |first8=Anirban |last9=Mayhew |first9=Bradley |last10=Noble |first10=John |last11=Raub |first11=Kevin |last12=Singh |first12=Sarina |last13=Stewart |first13=Iain |title=Lonely Planet India |date=1 October 2017 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=978-1-78701-199-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yLU7DwAAQBAJ&dq=wankaner+palace+lonely+planet&pg=PT1719 |access-date=8 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010163751/https://books.google.com/books?id=yLU7DwAAQBAJ&dq=wankaner+palace+lonely+planet&pg=PT1719 |url-status=live }}</ref> The sandstone of which the palace is built was sourced from quarries in Wankaner State.<ref>{{cite news |title=રાજમહેલ:એક સદીથી અમર મિત્રતાનું પ્રતીક એવા વાંકાનેરના 'રણજીત વિલાસ પેલેસ'ને હરિયાળો લિબાસ |url=https://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/local/gujarat/morbi/wankaner/news/wankaners-ranjit-vilas-palace-a-symbol-of-immortal-friendship-for-a-century-is-dressed-in-green-127685876.html |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=Divya Bhaskar |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010163756/https://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/local/gujarat/morbi/wankaner/news/wankaners-ranjit-vilas-palace-a-symbol-of-immortal-friendship-for-a-century-is-dressed-in-green-127685876.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The palace also has a [[clock tower]] topped with an [[onion dome]] which suffered extensive damage in the 2001 earthquake.

Much of the decor and furnishings of the palace was imported from Europe.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McGowan |first1=A. |title=Crafting the Nation in Colonial India |date=20 July 2009 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-0-230-62323-1 |page=125 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hcvIAAAAQBAJ&dq=ranjit+vilas+palace+wankaner&pg=PA125 |access-date=8 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Its interiors are richly decorated and feature [[Italian marble]] flooring, Burma [[teak]] furniture and [[chandelier]]s from [[Murano]] and [[Belgium]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mulchandani |first1=Anil |title=Royal retreats |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20080602-royal-retreats-736373-2008-05-22 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=India Today |date=22 May 2008 |language=en |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170446/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20080602-royal-retreats-736373-2008-05-22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The walls of the palace are adorned with what is claimed to be the largest collection of [[hunting trophies]] in India.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Saad |title=The Palatial Wonderland: On the bend of the Machhu river in Wankaner, two palaces take you to a rich royal past |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/destination-of-the-week/on-the-bend-of-the-machhu-river-in-wankaner-gujarat-two-palaces-take-you-to-a-rich-royal-past-4815227/ |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=27 August 2017 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170446/https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/destination-of-the-week/on-the-bend-of-the-machhu-river-in-wankaner-gujarat-two-palaces-take-you-to-a-rich-royal-past-4815227/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Guides |first1=Rough |title=The Rough Guide to India (Travel Guide eBook) |date=3 October 2016 |publisher=Rough Guides UK |isbn=978-0-241-29539-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aL_kDAAAQBAJ&dq=ranjit+vilas+palace+wankaner&pg=PT839 |access-date=8 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010163758/https://books.google.com/books?id=aL_kDAAAQBAJ&dq=ranjit+vilas+palace+wankaner&pg=PT839 |url-status=live }}</ref> An area of the palace was turned into a museum and the palace [[Garage (residential)|garage]] houses a collection of [[vintage car]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kinch |first1=Laura |last2=Sawday |first2=Alistair |title=India |year=2006 |publisher=Alastair Sawday Publications |page=121 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_usvAQAAIAAJ&q=ranjit+vilas+palace+wankaner |access-date=8 September 2022 |language=en |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010163800/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/India/_usvAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=ranjit+vilas+palace+wankaner&dq=ranjit+vilas+palace+wankaner&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chaturvedi |first1=Devika |title=Best getaway options around Gujarat |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20120326-getaway-travel-options-tips-travel-gujrat-saputara-757719-2012-03-13 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=India Today |date=13 March 2012 |language=en |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170450/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20120326-getaway-travel-options-tips-travel-gujrat-saputara-757719-2012-03-13 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=રાજમહેલ:એક સદીથી અમર મિત્રતાનું પ્રતીક એવા વાંકાનેરના 'રણજીત વિલાસ પેલેસ'ને હરિયાળો લિબાસ |url=https://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/local/gujarat/morbi/wankaner/news/wankaners-ranjit-vilas-palace-a-symbol-of-immortal-friendship-for-a-century-is-dressed-in-green-127685876.html |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=Divya Bhaskar |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170500/https://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/local/gujarat/morbi/wankaner/news/wankaners-ranjit-vilas-palace-a-symbol-of-immortal-friendship-for-a-century-is-dressed-in-green-127685876.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Incredible India: Wankaner |url=https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/rajkot/wankaner.html |website=incredibleindia.org |access-date=8 September 2022 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170447/https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/rajkot/wankaner.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Recent history ==
The 2013 Hindi film ''[[Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola]]'' and [[Grand Masti]] was shot at the Ranjit Vilas Palace as was the 2023 film [[Gaslight (2023 film)|Gaslight]].<ref>{{cite news |title='Gaslight' Was Shot In 36 Days In Gujarat, Reveals Director |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/-gaslight-was-shot-in-36-days-in-gujarat-reveals-director-news-270302 |access-date=14 June 2023 |publisher=Outlook India |date=15 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vishal Bharadwaj in Wankaner to shoot his new film |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/vishal-bharadwaj-in-wankaner-to-shoot-his-new-film/articleshow/12101340.cms |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=1 March 2012 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908184058/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/vishal-bharadwaj-in-wankaner-to-shoot-his-new-film/articleshow/12101340.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Filming Location Matching "Ranjit Vilas Palace, Wankaner, Rajkot, Gujarat, India" (Sorted by Popularity Ascending) |url=https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?locations=Ranjit%20Vilas%20Palace%2C%20Wankaner%2C%20Rajkot%2C%20Gujarat%2C%20India&ref_=tt_dt_loc |publisher=IMDb |access-date=8 September 2022 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908184103/https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?locations=Ranjit%20Vilas%20Palace,%20Wankaner,%20Rajkot,%20Gujarat,%20India&ref_=tt_dt_loc |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Greenlighting Gujarat |url=https://www.vervemagazine.in/arts-and-culture/greenlighting-gujarat |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=Verve Magazine |date=26 February 2014 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908184101/https://www.vervemagazine.in/arts-and-culture/greenlighting-gujarat |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, thieves broke into the palace and made away with loot worth Rs 3.4 million including silver chairs, a marble gold-plated Victorian clock and a silver replica of the Wankaner House in Mumbai.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thieves break into Ranjit Vilas Palace in Gujarat's Morbi, swipe silverware worth Rs 8 lakh |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/thieves-break-into-ranjit-vilas-palace-in-gujarats-morbi-swipe-silverware-worth-rs-8-lakh/ |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=20 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010163808/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/thieves-break-into-ranjit-vilas-palace-in-gujarats-morbi-swipe-silverware-worth-rs-8-lakh/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=પેલેસમાંથી એન્ટિક વસ્તુઓની ચોરી, વાંકાનેરના યુવરાજે જાહેર કર્યું 5 લાખનું ઇનામ |url=https://zeenews.india.com/gujarati/gujarat/antique-thing-stolen-from-wankaner-palace-5-lakh-prize-announces-by-wankaner-yuvraj-13690 |access-date=8 September 2022 |work=Zee News Gujarati |date=22 July 2018 |language=en |archive-date=10 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010163809/https://zeenews.india.com/gujarati/gujarat/antique-thing-stolen-from-wankaner-palace-5-lakh-prize-announces-by-wankaner-yuvraj-13690 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://archive.org/details/dni.ncaa.CVI-SUR%20R%20755-UM Visit to Wankaner Palace, Gujarat]

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[[Category:Royal residences in India]]
[[Category:Palaces in Gujarat]]

Ranjit Vilas Palace (Wankaner) - Revision history

Swastikholidays: started a info