When Baroda was conquered in 1721 by the Gaekwads, Patan acted as one of the administrative headquarters. Later, this was shifted to Mehsana district in 1902, as it was connected to Baroda via GBSR (Gaekwar’s Baroda State Railways). With one of the administrative headquarters being set up in Mehsana, a place for the royalty had to be the next thing to come up. This need was transformed into a building with the Rajmahal Palace being built there in the early 1900s.
Commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the Rajmahal Palace was completed in 1904. The palace was built at the cost of Rs. 4,43,532. With the advent of Indian independence, the Palace was handed over to Municipal Corporation & was used as the District Court.
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There are beautiful small onion shaped domes in center portion of Palace. A clock is also placed on the center dome. The side portions of palace are of umbrella shaped domes, with carvings of wood & stones all the place.
A statue of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III stands tall in front of the Palace !
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