Gondal – city in the Rajkot district of Gujarat

Gondal is described as a beautiful city with awe-inspiring architecture. Hmm, we didn’t see a lot to inspire us as we drove in but then it was only an overnight stop and our journey from Bhuj had been a long and difficult drive with lots of road works and traffic jams.

However, our frustrations and tiredness were forgotten as we drove through the wrought iron gates and down the curved gravel drive, past a herd of deer, a pride of lions and spotted our hotel for the night. Wow!!

We were staying at a hotel called The Orchard Palace, it was built by a Maharaja as a house for his visitors as an annex of the Huzoor Palace, the family residence, in the late-19th century to host personal guests of the Maharajas. Converted into a seven-room heritage hotel, it is appointed with 1930s and ‘40s art deco furniture, antiques and handicrafts.

We were given a ground floor room at the back overlooking what is now a vegetable garden.

I wish I’d taken more photos of the shared area. Here are the few that I did take.

To the left of the Guest House are two carriages from the Royal train, which in the past had been used by the Maharaja and the other carriage by his guests.

Here are photos of the inside, the first 4 are of the Maharaja’s carriage the rest are the Guest carriage. (Not quite so posh.)

Also behind the railway carriages was a sign saying

It was a very surreal garden with ponds, planting and statues.

In an area behind the pool

There was an L shaped building that held the Maharaja’s car collection started by the present King’s father.

We enjoyed the lovely vegetarian meal that night, us three and two American ladies and their guide.

In the morning we packed up and went to visit Naulakha Palace built in the 17th century. When the new family palace was built the accommodation in the old palace was changed to a series of museum collections of things like China, dolls, birds eggs, Turbans, toy cars, clocks and watches. Plus a few more. This family were such orders!!

We carried on with our journey to Ahmedabad with an overnight stop in Iscon The Fern Hotel in Bavhagar. It seems this hotel specialises in weddings and it is currently wedding season. One the afternoon we arrived there had been an Anniversary party and that night was a wedding, a relatively small one with only 300 guests!!

When we came down to dinner later one of the managers asked if we’d like to see the wedding set up, we jumped at the chance. We were watching guests arrive up some very impressive steps and became inundated with requests for photos with guests. We thoroughly enjoyed it! Such lovely, friendly people.

The next day we were off to Ahmedabad, the last stop of this part of our holiday where our friend is travelling home to the UK but we are carrying on.