Politician Jyotiraditya Scindia, who belongs to the royal family from Gwalior, declared massive assets of Rs 2,970 crore, while contesting elections. His ancestral palace, the imperial Jai Vilas Mahal, accounts for the biggest share of Jyotiraditya Scindia net worth.
Where is Jyotiraditya Scindia Palace located?
The Jai Vilas Mahal or Jai Vilas Palace is located at Gwalior and currently has the Jivajirao Scindia Museum, which was opened for the general public in 1964.
Jyotiraditya Scindia Palace: Details
The biggest asset in Scindia’s property portfolio is the incomparable Jai Vilas Mahal, built in 1874 by Maharajadhiraj Shrimant Jayajirao Scindia Alijah Bahadur.
The Jai Vilas Palace, as it is also called, covers a whopping 40 acre and is estimated to have more than 400 rooms in total. A portion of the Scindia Palace has become a museum wing, while the remaining still accommodates the royal family.
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Jyotiraditya Scindia’s inheritance is estimated at $2 billion, with several rare objects including a vintage car collection within Jai Vilas Mahal and a one-of-its-kind three-wheel BMW Isetta from the 1960s.
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Jai Vilas Palace: Architecture
The architect of this landmark, Sir Michael Filose, reportedly took inspiration from Tuscan, Italian and Corinthian architectural styles.
The building has two floors while the turrets and wings are five and three storeys, respectively. While the first floor has more of a Tuscan influence, the second floor is Italian Doric and the third is more Corinthian, in terms of its architectural influences.
The palace is sprawled over 1,24,771 sqft, without the inner square which is 321 by 321 ft. The Durbar Hall is the chief attraction, with its golden and gilt furnishings, massive carpets and elegant lighting. The Durbar Hall is 100 ft long while being 41 ft high and 50 ft wide.
Jai Vilas Palace: Grand chandelier
The Jai Vilas Mahal has two chandeliers weighing 3,500 kg. Legends state that eight elephants were suspended from the Durbar Hall’s ceiling, to ensure that the roof was strong enough to hold the imposing chandeliers. Two of these chandeliers have 250 light bulbs while being the largest such pair in the world!
(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
Jai Vilas Palace: Reception room
The Reception room is 97 ft and eight inches long and 50 ft wide, while also being 41 ft in height. The roof has arched stone slabs which are 21 ft long and they form a colonnade throughout the room with double Corinthian columns.
More than 3,00,000 gold leaves were used for decorating the Reception Room. The Grand Staircase room has similar 30-ft-long stone slabs and similar roofing.
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Jai Vilas Palace: Grand drawing room
The grand drawing room has fabulous chandeliers and massive mirrors. The prince’s bedstead, bath and wash were made of silver and the palace cost more than Rs 11,00,000 in its time of construction. There was an additional expenditure of Rs 5,00,000 for the garden walls, gardens, iron railings, glass, furniture, chandeliers, grand staircase and other adornments. The garden occupies a square mile with numerous fountains and waterfalls alike.
(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
There is a big room which has the photographs and desk of Madhavrao Scindia while several bathrooms, bedrooms and drawing rooms remain exactly as they were in the past. The royal kitchen has been immaculately kept with its lavish pots, furnaces and precious china. Stuffed tigers, cut-glass furniture items and a swimming pool just for women with a boat, are unusual items filling up several rooms of the palace.
(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
Also read all about Vadodara’s lavish Lakshmi Vilas Palace
Jai Vilas Palace dining room
The dining room is a true delight. The highlight of this room is the Jai Vilas Palace silver train – a model train for carrying after-dinner cigars and brandy throughout the table. There is an Indian-style dining area for times when the Maratha and other noblemen were invited for meals. The dining room accommodates 40 seats.
(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
Jyotiraditya Scindia Mahal interesting facts
There is a famous palanquin at the palace which was gifted by Shah Alam II, the Mughal emperor, who was restored back to his throne by none other than Mahadji Scindia in 1787. Ghulam Qadir, the Rohilla courtier, had taken control of the capital of Delhi. He had humiliated the royal family of the Mughals while blinding emperor Shah Alam II, as well. This tragic chain of events has been talked about through the poems of Allama Iqbal. Mahadaji Scindia rescued the family of the Mughal emperor and eventually helped in capturing Ghulam Qadir. He then became the ruler of Delhi for a brief while. He was an immensely powerful figure in his time while historians state that he was the third highest Maratha ruler by way of importance, after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Peshwa Bajirao.
(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
The museum in Jai Vilas Palace showcases the history behind the origins of the Scindia rulers from Maharashtra’s Kanherkhed Village. The family left this village back in 1726 although it has preserved its heritage in the state. On special days, the family members still put on the Maratha style turban or Shineshahi Pagdi that makes use of 60 metre of Chanderi Silk and pointed ends.
See also: All about the Mysore Palace
Jyotiraditya Scindia House in Mumbai
Jyotiraditya Scindia house in Mumbai is located in the premier Samudra Mahal high-rise that is located in Worli Mumbai. Scindia reportedly paid Rs 31 crore for the purchase of these apartments. Jyotiraditya Scindia has a duplex apartment with terrace on the 27th and the 28th floors of the A wing of the building. These flats were put on rent to Triton International in Mumbai with them commanding a rent of over RS 5 lakh. The total area of the house is around 3553 sqft. Previously, the apartment was rented to Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor.
Jyotiraditya Scindia: Other properties
Scindia also owns a massive land parcel of 19 acre in Shrigonda, Maharashtra and also 43 acre in the Limban Village.
FAQs
Who built Jai Vilas Palace?
Jai Vilas Mahal was built by Maharajadhiraj Shrimant Jayajirao Scindia Alijah Bahadur in 1874
How much area does Jai Vilas Palace cover?
The palace covers a whopping 1,24,771 sqft, not accounting for the inner square.
Where is the Jai Vilas Palace located?
Jyotiraditya Scindia’s chief residence, the Jai Vilas Mahal, is located in Gwalior.
What is the speciality of Jai Vilas Palace?
The Jai Vilas Palace has an intricately designed Durbar Hall that houses colossal chandeliers, gilt furnishings and a large plush carpet.
Who designed Jai Vilas Palace?
The Jai Vilas Palace is designed by British Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Michael Filose.
