The Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum housed within the compound of the Lukshmi Vilas Palace, Baroda was established in 1961. It houses a large number of works of art belonging to the royal family.
The building earlier used to house the school for the children of the royal family. Now, the museum contains works of art collected by Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III during his numerous trips out of India.
The Collection:
The major works of art in this museum are the paintings by European and Indian artists. Some of the works displayed here are by famed European Renaissance artists like Raphael, Titian, Murillo, and Rembrandt, as well as that of the famous Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma. There is also a collection of sculptures in marble and bronze, which include copies of great masters in bronze by renowned artists. Another interesting collection houses Chinese and Japanese porcelain artifacts, while two rooms on the ground floor are treasure troves of the Roccoco period in art, and a section fully dedicated to headgears.
One of the artists commissioned by the Maharaja was an Italian artist Fellicci whose sculptures adorn not only the Museum but also the Lukshmi Vilas Palace. Some of Fellicci’s works can be seen in the Sayaji Baug (also known as Kamati Baug by the locals).
Another one of the artists supported by Sayajirao III was Raja Ravi Varma. He was specially commissioned to make the portraits of the members of the royal family. The collection of his paintings also includes the paintings based on Hindu mythology for which he was famous.
In front of the museum in a glass case is housed a fully functional Toy Train that the prince Ranjitsinh Gaekwad received on his fifth birthday from his father Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad!
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The museum received the Best Museum of Gujarat Award by Tourism Awards, 2019, and is also the only museum in the State to run fully on solar energy.
For Museum Visitors:
Museum Timings:
The Museum is open to visitors on all days except Mondays & public Holidays. Visitors timings are from 10 to 17:00 hrs
Note: Photography is NOT allowed inside the Museum.
One and only word come into my mind for this museum… "Awesome". This museum is having many kind of historical, natural, archaeological, biological things to display. A whole day spent here can make it splendid.
Every one visiting vadodara, must visit it.
This place is Awesome n Marvelous !!!
It makes curiosity of the person to know the history of the BARODA!!!!!