Inside Jyotiraditya Scindia’s luxurious Jai Vilas Palace in Gwalior: It has 400 rooms, 560 kg of pure melted gold decorated in Durbar Hall, silver buggy, woven carpets by… and….

Jyotiraditya Scindia, an important minister in the Modi government, is renowned for his opulent lifestyle. As a member of the illustrious Scindia dynasty, he possesses properties worth crores; however, his grand palace in Gwalior garners the most spotlight. But what makes Jai Vilas Palace in Gwalior the most prized possession? Well, read this detailed article.

Jai Vilas Palace is known for its stunning architecture and remarkable features. This magnificent palace, featuring 400 rooms, 560 kilograms of gold embellishments, and chandeliers weighing 3,000 kilograms, has safeguarded its legacy for generations.

In 1874, Jayaji Rao Scindia, the ruler of the Scindia dynasty, commissioned the construction of the Jai Vilas Palace in Gwalior. The palace was meticulously designed by French architect Sir Michael Filose, blending European architectural elegance with Indian grandeur. This majestic palace was built as a Western-style residence for the Maharaja and also to extend a grand welcome to the then-Prince of Wales and Emperor of British India (1901-10) King Edward VII and Queen Mary, on their visit to Gwalior on 20th December 1905, during their India tour.

The Jai Vilas Palace is an inspired amalgam of three architectural styles – a Tuscan first storey, an Italian Doric second storey, and a third storey that draws inspiration from Corinthian design. On 12th December, 1964, Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia converted the West and South wings of the Palace into a museum, in memory of her beloved husband HH Maharaja Sir Jiwaji Rao Scindia, the last Maharaja of the Princely State of Gwalior. The Museum was inaugurated by the then-President of India, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakishnan.

The Jai Vilas Palace boasts a total of 400 rooms. According to the official website of Jai Vilas Palace, the ornately gilded and majestic Darabāra Hall was used by the Scindia family as their Royal Court to hold receptions and stately functions/events for royal guests and eminent dignitaries.

The hall’s columns draw inspiration from the Corinthian order, while the dome of the Durbar Hall is modeled after St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. The hall features several fascinating elements, including the use of approximately 560 kilograms of pure melted gold to adorn every corner. It also boasts a massive 90-foot-long and 40-foot-wide carpet, woven within the hall itself by captives held in the palace jail, as no carpet manufacturer could produce one of such immense dimensions. Additionally, the hall houses two of the largest chandeliers ever made.

The museum is filled with immense valuable objects like the Silver Buggy the royal carriage of the Scindia family which was made around the late 19th century during the regime of HH Madho Rao Scindia.

It is based on a wooden and metal frame and contains 50 kilograms of silver on it. “A thick sheet of silver is embellished with representations of various objects and beings including sun, snake, floral pattern, fish, women, lions and angels. The upholstery of the carriage is done in golden brocade and velvet laces, with seats for four people along with separate seats for attendants and charioteer,” reads the official website.

Scindia, one of the youngest ministers of India, is the grandson of the late Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia, the last ruler of the Maratha princely state of Gwalior. Speaking of Jyotiraditya Scindia’s educational qualification, he graduated in Economics in 1993 from the Harvard University. He completed his M.B.A. in 2001 from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

The Jai Vilas Palace features a model train made of solid silver on its dining table. This train was used to transport brandy and cigars for the guests. Spanning 124,771 square feet, the Jai Vilas Palace is a three-story building and serves as the current residence of the Scindia family. If sources and media reports are to be trusted, the palace, originally constructed for Rs 1 crore in 1874, is now valued at more than Rs 4,000 crore.