Sprawling over an area of 700 acres, Laxmi Vilas Palace is the popular tourist destination in Vadodara and one of the finest example of Indo-Sarcenic style of architecture. This official residence of the Maharajas of the territory was constructed by Maharaja Sayaji Rao III between the years 1878 and 1890. The interiors of the palace is beautifully adorned with a collection of old armour as well as bronze and marble sculptures, fine stone and valuable furnishings. The place is decorated with the fine works of the Italian artist, Fellicci. The major attraction of Laxmi Vilas Palace is the magnificent Darbar hall having Italian mosaic floor and walls.
Within the palace premises, there is a museum named Fateh singh Rao Museum containing various art works and articles belonging to the royal family and a zoo that was is inhabited by a number of crocodiles and peacocks. Today nothing remains in the zoo except a pond.
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