Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / India / Gondal / Riverside Palace
Riverside Palace
Gondal, Gujarat, India · Palaces of Gondal · Core Luxury
Riverside Palace is the river-front house Maharaja Bhagwat Sinhji built in Gondal for Crown Prince Bhojrajji. The ruling family still runs it as a heritage hotel, with Art Deco rooms, a vintage-car collection, and a royal railway saloon. Orchard Palace, the seven-room guesthouse on the estate, is a separate hotel.
- 11 rooms
- Opened 1885
- Neighborhood: Rajkot
About Riverside Palace
- Maharaja Bhagwat Sinhji built the Riverside Palace in the late 19th century as the residence of the Crown Prince, and the Orchard Palace served as a guesthouse for his personal visitors.
- The 17th Maharaja, Himanshusinhji Jyotendrasinhji, still manages the estate, which keeps its Art Deco and colonial-period character.
- A royal railway saloon converted into a suite and a vintage 1920s-30s European car collection are part of the estate.
History
Commissioned in the late 19th century by Maharaja Bhagwat Sinhji, the Riverside Palace (1885) was the residence of the Crown Prince, while the Orchard Palace served as a guesthouse for personal visitors of the Maharaja. The properties remain the private residence of the Gondal royal family, who converted portions of their estates into heritage hotels to preserve their historic architecture and extensive heirloom collections. Today, the 17th Maharaja, HH Himanshusinhji Jyotendrasinhji, continues to manage the estate, maintaining the palaces' authentic art deco and colonial-period character.
Restaurants and bars
- The Riverside Dining Room — Restaurant
- The Dining Hall at Orchard Palace — Restaurant
Experiences
- Royal Garage - A Vintage Car Museum — Vintage and classic cars spanning over a century, including a pre-1910 New Engine owned by Maharaja Bhagwat Sinhji and a 1935 Mercedes saloon.
- Museum at The Naulakha Palace — Former living quarters converted into a private museum with textiles, royal wardrobes, silver caskets, toys and motorsport trophies.
- Rail Saloon — Maharaja of Gondal's long-distance travel saloon, preserved in the palace grounds with original wooden interiors; guests can stay here.
- Bird and peacock watching in the grounds — More than 80 peacocks and peahens inhabit the gardens of Orchard Palace, with other birds visible while walking the grounds.
- Birdwatching at the river shores — A variety of birds come into the Riverside Palace property from the reedy shores of the river.
- Swimming pool — Pool access is included in the stay at both palaces; Orchard Palace has a pool set among trees.
Amenities
- Royal Vintage & Classic Car Collection museum
- Private Royal Rail Saloon suite in the gardens
- Heritage dining featuring royal family recipes and organic produce
- Guided tours of the historic Naulakha Palace museum
- Swimming pool and landscaped garden access
- Colonial-era interiors with family heirloom antiques
Open Riverside Palace in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More hotels in Gondal
- Orchard Palace — Palaces of Gondal · Core Luxury