Part 2 Discovering Royal Heritage, Stunning Artefacts, and Naval Rooms, Naulakha Palace

After having completed a reconnaissance of the Palace’s outside quarters, in Part 1, I can well imagine what may be going on in your mind.

How will the rooms and living area of a Palace be which is so beautiful from the outside, am I right? 🧐

Yes, of course ❗

In Part 2, we will take a trip to the library, the trophy rooms, the living rooms of the Royal family.

Hold your breath and tag along …

Where’s Naulakha Palace?

Let’s quickly find out where is this Palace. Specially for the first-time readers who did not get a chance till now to visit the Part 1.

***We drove about 1.7 kms East from the Orchard Palace,***
***through the lanes and slender roads towards the river Gondal.***

Staircase to Heaven

The Gothic-style pillars guided us toward a grand arched entrance. A winding staircase led to a foyer adjoining a lavishly adorned sitting room for guests at the Naulakha Palace in Gondal by gautam lahiri — ***The Gothic-style pillars guided us towards a grand arched entrance.***
***A winding staircase led to a foyer adjoining a lavishly decorated***
***sitting room for guests at the Naulakha Palace in Gondal***

Long drapes hung over the expansive windows, while soothing hues and vintage black-and-white photographs graced the walls. The room was furnished with period pieces, complemented by large, ornate vases. A brass flower vase was prominently displayed on an elegant, sprawling carpet at Naulakha Palace, Gondal. by gautam lahiri — ***Long drapes hung over the expansive windows, while soothing***
***hues and vintage black-and-white photographs graced the walls.***
***The room was furnished with period pieces, complemented***
***by large, ornate vases. One of the Royal figurines stared over***
***a stool at the visitors. A brass flower vase was prominently displayed***
***on an elegant, sprawling carpet at Naulakha Palace, Gondal***

One of the large walls, had the portrait of Prince Shri
Natversinji Saheb, 4th son of HH Maharaja Shri Bhagvatsinji at Naulakha palace by gautam lahiri — ***One of the large walls, had the portrait of Prince Shri***
***Natversinji Saheb, 4th son of HH Maharaja Shri Bhagvatsinji***

The Royal Library

Upon entering the main section, a well-stocked library greeted us to the right. Everything from the fan to the lamp holders, chairs, and cabinets bore the design of the 18th century. The glass-covered reading table would be the delight of any book lover at the Naulakha Palace in Gondal by gautam lahiri — ***Upon entering the main section, a well-stocked library***
***greeted us to the right. Everything from the fan to***
***the lamp holders, chairs, and cabinets bore the design***
***of the 18th century. The glass-covered reading table***
***would delight any book lover***
***at the Naulakha Palace in Gondal***

The ideal seating arrangement at the heart of the library was the focal point. Vintage photographs and an ancient ceiling fan gave the impression of stepping back in time at Naulakha Palace, Gondal by gautam lahiri — ***The ideal seating arrangement at the heart of***
***the library was the focal point. Vintage photographs***
***and an ancient ceiling fan gave the impression***
***of stepping back in time at Naulakha Palace, Gondal***

The library had a very interesting dual seat chair. Built to hold two oppositely seating individuals without infringing into their reading focus at Naulakha Palace, Gondal by gautam lahiri — ***The library had a very interesting dual seat chair.***
***Built to hold two oppositely seating individuals***
***without infringing into their reading focus***
***at Naulakha Palace, Gondal***

The Maharaja

Astonishing rooms

The expansive room was adorned with period furniture, and atop each piece stood a bust of historical figures. Although the purpose of these busts was unclear, they were part of the exhibit at Naulakha Palace in Gondal by gautam lahiri — ***The expansive room was gilded with period furniture,***
***and atop each piece stood a bust of historical figures.***
***Although the purpose of these busts was unclear, they were***
***part of the exhibit at Naulakha Palace in Gondal***

Children’s corner

In the 18th century, a child's room at the Naulakha Palace in Gondal featured a doll seated on a small chair, surrounded by intriguing furniture and paintings by gautam lahiri — ***In the 18th century, a child’s room at the Naulakha***
***Palace in Gondal featured a doll seated on a small chair,***
***surrounded by intriguing furniture and paintings***

The Darbar Hall

The superbly decorated Darbar Hall or the audience Hall at the Naulakha Palace, Gondal by gautam lahiri — ***Outstandingly decorated, the Darbar Hall or the hall for***
***the audience for both, elite and common people, will***
***take your breath away. The room is lit by large chandeliers.***
***All around various delicately curved gilt wooden furniture***
***encircled the room with old-fashioned mirrors***

Stuffed Leopards

A stuffed leaping leopard, placed in the Darbar Hall of the Naulakha Palace, Gondal by gautam lahiri — ***A stuffed leaping leopard (taxidermied), placed in the Darbar***
***Hall of the Naulakha Palace, Gondal***

A crouching leopard, fascinatingly real, looked at the regal chairs, ready to threaten if anything gets amiss at the Naulakha Palace, Gondal by gautam lahiri — ***A crouching leopard, fascinatingly real, looked at***
***the regal chairs, ready to threaten if***
***anything gets amiss at the Naulakha Palace, Gondal***

Naval Ships and Boats

A beautifully created sail ship within its glass enclosure sat in one of the great rooms at Naulakha Palace, Gondal by gautam lahiri — ***A beautifully created sail ship within its glass enclosure***
***sat in one of the great rooms at Naulakha Palace, Gondal***

A pleasure boat, a speed boat, coral structure and a few seashells and conks embellished the naval rooms at the Naulakha Palace, Gondal by gautam lahiri — ***A pleasure boat, a speed boat, coral structure and***
***a few seashells and conks embellished the naval***
***rooms at the Naulakha Palace, Gondal***

A brilliantly crafted sail ship in its full glory with all the sails pulled out, ready to sail, stood on a glass table at Naulakha Palace, Gondal by gautam lahiri — ***A brilliantly crafted sail ship in its full glory with***
***all the sails pulled out, ready to sail, stood on***
***a glass table at Naulakha Palace, Gondal***

Part 3

Well, we will continue our tour with you in Part 3 where you will see the kitchen of the 18th century and a few very interesting artefacts of the Royal family.

In Part 4, you have seen the majestic collection of crockeries and chandeliers at the Royal Palace of Naulakha🍽️🔪

Part 5, will take you through those times of 19th century where you can see a superb collection of horse drawn carriages of that era 🐎

Part 6 gives a visitor a brilliant tour of the Royal collection of toys, that include, scale models of cars, trains and airplanes 🚃🚗✈️

Hope you are enjoying the Palace tour with us 🏰

Inference

Anyone who loves museums will really like the Palace relics
Remember, not to use camera everywhere as restrictions to photograph apply within the palace

Distance from Orchard Palace to the Naulakha Palace	1.7 kms
Best time to visit	December through early March, avoid summers. Wear cotton clothes as Gujarat does not have any winters
Timings	9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed from 2.30 pm to 3 pm for lunch) Time Required: 4 hours Closed on Sunday
Parking	The Naulakha Palace has its own parking
Pocket pinch	Entry Fee: Indians – Orchard Palace Rs.150 when we went, perhaps Rs.200 now Camera – Rs.150 Mobile camera – Rs.100 Video Shooting charge: Rs.200 Palace Guide Cost – Rs.200 for 2 hours
Places to visit around	Shri Swaminarayan Mandir The Orchard Palace Shri Ramanath Dham

TRAVEL BASICS

SPITFIRE GAUTAM

“Live your life by a compass, not a clock” – Stephen Covey