The Laxmi Niwas Palace Bikaner
The Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner (The Luxury Heritage Hotel)
In view of the wishes expressed by Maharaja Ganga Singhji during his minority, the regency council in the last year of its regime in 1897 AD took in hand construction of a new palace.
The Maharaja Choose Sir Swinton Jacob the then Chief Engineer of Jaipur State, who was considered one of the foremost exponents of the architectural style known as "Indo – Saracenic". based on Rajput and Mughal architecture.
Sir Swinton has designed the Laxmi Niwas Palace which was constructed in a period of four years and completed in 1902 A.D. It's marble courtyards, magnificent halls, anterooms, Colonnaded corridors, canopied balconies adorned with intricate filigree and lattice work in stone and wood with aesthetically designed interior decoration of frescoes and mural paintings in gold and exquisite lacquers were all executed by the hereditary craftsmen of Bikaner under the watchful eye of the young Maharaja who took keen interest in the finalisation of motifs and designs as well as execution of work at all stages of construction. For its artistic excellence of ornately elegant splendour, this palace was also viewed by the architects "Lutyens and Baker" in 1914 when they weve touring India to seek designs for building Delhi, the new capital of India.
Built of pink sandstone, brought from the stone quarries of Dulmera, some 45 kms. north of Bikaner city and set amidst acres of landscaped gardens dotted with lily pools and fountains, this monumental palace in all its grandeur and beauty was the principal residence of the Maharaja of Bikaner, exclusively for the use of Royal family and their guests.
The Palace, when completed was named after the goddess of wealth & prosperity – "LAXMI", consort of Lord "LAXMI NARAINJI" (another name of The Creator Vishnu) one of the Tutelary Deities of the House of Bikaner.
Maharaja Ganga Singhji's outstanding gift was his flair for hospitality. Those whom he had the privilege of playing host in this palace included king George V & Queen Mary (as Prince & Princess of Wales in 1905), the king of Greece, the Prince of Wales (later king Edward viii in 1921) viceroys, Maharajas and renowned statesmen including his old friend, the great French radical leader M. Clemenceau whose political antagonisms had earned him the formidable title of "TIGER" and who, as prime minister of France presided over the deliberations of the first world war Peace treaty at Versailles in 1919.
The list of the honoured guests runs like a who's who. It includes the honourable Dr Rajendra Prasad, First president of our republic; the venerable veteran nationalist leader and founder of the Benaras Hindu University, Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya Ji ,Dr (Mrs)Sarojini Naidu , Sir Tejbahadur Sapru, Sir Akbar Haidri etc.
The Laxmi Niwas Palace opened its doors as a luxury heritage hotel at the turn of the Twenty first century has 42 palatial rooms fitted with all modern amenities.