Vijay Villas Palace - 64 KM
Vijay Vilas Palace was built during the reign of Maharao Shri Khengarji III, the Maharao of Kachchh, as a summer resort for the use of his son and heir to the kingdom, Yuvraj Shri Vijayaraji, and is therefore named after him as Vijaya Vilas Palace. The palace is built with red sandstone. It has all the elements of Rajput architecture and draws largely on the plans of the palaces of Orchha and Datia. The palace is set in the middle of well-laid gardens with water channels and marble fountains. The carved stone works of Jalis, Jharokas, Chhatris, Chhajas, murals, and many other artistic stone carvings, coloured glass work on windows, and door panels have all been done by the architects and craftsmen from places like Jaipur, Rajasthan, Bengal, and Saurashtra, as well as the local Kachchhi artisan community, the Mistris of Kachchh and Suthars. The mixture and mingling of architecture and style from different regions of India, as such, can be distinctly seen in the design and architecture of the Vijaya Vilas Palace. The balcony at the top affords a superb view of the surrounding area. The tiny, intricate windows give one the feeling of being out in the open, through which cool sea wind passes out. The campus also houses the Chhatri of Vijayaraji, who died in 1948 and to whom this palace was very dear. Vijaya Vilas Palace has its own private beach, which offers air-conditioned tented accommodation. The royal families of Kachchh State now reside permanently in the palace, which was earlier used only as a summer resort.