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and compulsory for girls, removed all
taxes, and introduced town planning systems, sanitary drainage, underground
electricity, wide roads, highways, rural roads, an excellent railway
network, schools and medical facilities. The town of Gondal, other
towns like Dhoraji and Upleta, and 175 villages prospered during his
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About us: The
great-grandson of Maharajah Bhagwat Sinhji, H.H. Jyotinder Sinhji
and his wife HH Kumud Kumari have established the HGH group which
includes operational heritage hotels like the Riverside and Orchard
palace at Gondal, and Dil bahar at Bhavnagar, and the Jai mahal palace
at Bangalore which is being converted to a heritage hotel. The Riverside
palace was the Town house of the Yuvraj of Gondal in 1885 AD, while
the Orchard palace was the guest wing of the Maharajah's own residency.
The properties have been restored and renovated to offer the flavour
of the period when they were constructed. |
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Awards & Citations: The
Orchard palace has won the 26th International Award for outstanding
performance in Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industry for maintaining
high standards at their Orchard palace heritage hotel in Gondal. The
trophy for 2000 was awarded in the presence of tourism professionals
from over 40 countries of the world during the FITUR travel trade
fair at Madrid in January 2001. Recently it won the World Quality
Commitment International star award in the gold category at Paris
during the WQC convention. The Riverside palace has been approved
as a Heritage hotel by the Government of India’s Department of
tourism classification committee.
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The Riverside palace has 11 double bedrooms
and the Orchard palace has seven bedrooms. All 18 rooms are large,
high-ceilinged, and marvelously appointed with furniture that matches
the period. Most of the rooms have 4-poster beds, old dressers, carved
wooden cupboards, attractive drapes and paintings/prints, and all
have attached baths with western fixtures. The terraces and galleries
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the garden or the river. For the regional flavour,
Indian theme sitting rooms are appointed with local textiles and handicrafts,
Indian paintings and low seating arrangements. An interesting alternative
is the Royal Rail Saloon suite, a converted railway carriage of the
Maharajah of Gondal, which features a drawing room, dining room, bedroom,
shower room, English toilet and patio.
The meals served at the Riverside and Orchard palace are predominantly
Continental in keeping with the European architecture and colonial
theme interiors, but a few Kathiawadi dishes and Rajput specialties
are included in the menu to satisfy guests who want to try regional
cuisine.
>>>
Click here to visit Complete Picture Gallery >> |
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Royal
Fleet: Guests of the Riverside palace can view the royal fleet
of vintage and classic cars including pre-world war-2 models of New
Engine, Delage, Daimler, Mercedes, Packard and Cadillac, 1940s and
'50s American cars and limousine, and 1950s and '60s sports models
raced by the royal family to victory, besides the horse drawn carriages,
and the royal rail saloon carriages.
Naulakha
Palace: The 1748 AD Naulakha palace is a festival of stone
carvings, with ornate jarokha balconies, pillared courtyards and carved
arches. The former living quarters of the royal family now houses
a museum with a Toys department featuring a range of artifacts from
1870s hand-painted horses to 1970s toy cars, a Silver room with elephant
howdah, horse caparison and caskets that carried messages from princely
state to princely state, a handicraft room with local beadwork and
other crafts, and a room dedicated to the life of Bhagwat Sinhji.
Upstairs is a chandelier lit Darbarhall with stuffed panthers and
gilt chairs.
Ayurvedic Pharmacy:
Visitors to the Bhuvaneshwari pharmacy can watch traditional herbal
medicines being made according to ancient principles. The pharmacy
is next to the Bhuvaneshwari temple of Charantirth Maharaj, author
of 200 books on various subjects. Mahatma Gandhi visited Charantirth
Maharaj in 1915 AD.
Stud Farm: Another
Bhuvaneshwari trust initiative is the stud farm breeding Gir cattle
and Kathiawadi horses, which has won prestigious awards including
the Gopal Ratna.
Birding Spot: Near
the Bhuvaneshwari stud farm are lakes where flamingoes, pelicans,
demoiselle and common cranes, and several species of ducks gather
in winter Ibises and spoonbills nest near the lake. The royal family
has its own grasslands inhabited by Nilgai antelope, hare, jackal
and a variety of birds.
Handicrafts:
Spinners, weavers, gold and silversmiths, wood carvers and other artisans
can be watched at work in Gondal. Gondal bazaar is well known for
beadwork and embroideries. Brass patara boxes can be bought at Udyog
Bharati, a craft emporia.
Historic Building:
Historic attractions of Gondal include the Swaminarayan temple, which
has painted interiors, and the Sagramji high school resembling Eaton
with Italian marble floors and wood paneling.
Cultural
Attractions: The rural countryside around Gondal is home to
pastoral communities like the Bharwads and Charans. The heritage hotel
management can arrange visits to colourful villages for an insight
into the pastoral lifestyle of Saurashtra. Folk dances like Garba,
Dandia-Ras, Siddi dances and the Rajput sword dance can be arranged
on prior notice. |
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Junagadh
(60 km): The historic city of Junagadh is well known for its
3rd century BC Ashoka rock edicts, ancient Buddhist caves, the medieval
Uparkot fort, 19th century Nawabi period monuments and museums. The
city is overlooked by 3660 ft high Mt Girnar with Jain and Hindu temples
on the summit.
Girnar (65 km): On
the outskirts of Junagadh, the 3660 ft high mountain peak of Girnar
is crowned by Hindu and Jain temples. Splendid views and an opportunity
to see exquisite 12th century Jain temples are rewarding after the
strenuous climb to the summit.
Jetpur (31
km): The textile town of Jetpur is a major centre for screen
and block printing, and yarn dyeing factories. Screen and block printed
textiles can be bought from retail outlets at the printing factories.
Rajkot (39 km): The city of Rajkot was
a stronghold of the British Raj in Saurashtra and also the capital
of an important princely state. Mahatma Gandhi went to school at Rajkot
and his childhood home can be visited. Watson museum has a fine collection
of arts and crafts of Saurashtra. Rashtriya Shala is a well known
weaving institute dating to the 1920s.
Gir
National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary (123 km): The 1412 sq.
km Gir national park and wildlife sanctuary is a tapestry of deciduous
forests, semi-evergreen flora, thorn scrub jungle, grasslands and
water bodies. This wildlife reserve is world famous for being the
only home of the Asiatic lion. Other important wildlife species of
Gir are panther, sambar and spotted deer, 4-horned antelope, blue
bull(nilgai), wild boar, hyena and jackal. Birdwatchers will find
this a delightful place. Crocodiles bask on the shores of Kamleshwar
dam.
Veraval- Somnath (150 km):
The town of Veraval is one of India’s most important fishing
ports. Master artisans of Veraval make hand-crafted dhows. Somnath,
near Veraval, is an important Hindu pilgrimage with one of the 12
holiest Shiva temples in all of India. Other sights of Somnath are
the Sun temple, the Prabhas Patan museum, Cenotaph of lord Krishna,
Triveni Tirth, Bakhla Tirth and Ahilya temple. There are some pleasant
beaches at Veraval and Somnath.
Porbandar
(140 km): The historic city of Porbandar was the capital of
the Jetwa Rajputs for more than 1 millennia. Gandhiji was born at
Porbandar and his birthplace can be seen in the Kirti Mandir complex.
The city is set along the coast and there are picturesque fishing
harbours, where dhows and trawlers can be seen off-loading their catch,
and creeks full of birds. Flamingoes, pelicans, ibises, spoonbills
etc can be seen at the coastal wetlands of Porbandar.
Jamnagar
(110km): Jamnagar was the princely capital of the Jadeja state
of Nawanagar. It has many palaces and historic buildings. Jamnagar
is an important centre for Bandhini tie-dye fabrics, the brass industry
and Zari saris. |
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Mumbai-Rajkot by air/rail; then 39 km by
road to Gondal
Dehli/Calcutta/Madras/Bangalore/Mumbai-Ahmedabad by air/rail, then
250 km to
Gondal. |
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Palace Road, Gondal-360 311
Ph. : 91-2825-220002/224550 • Fax:91-79-26300962
E-mail: ssibal@ad1.vsnl.net.in |
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