The life of royalty, whether past or present, always holds a certain degree of attraction for people.

A tour to the city of Gondal, India would provide not just a glimpse of the life of royalty, but show the glory of ancient India and its royal families.  The country definitely has more than its fair share of temples and castles, and this city would be a great tourist spot and jump off point for other sightseeing adventures.

History of Gondal

Located near the Gondali river, the city was founded in the year 1634 by Thakore Shri Kumbhoji I Meramanji of the Jadeja dynasty.  It slowly raised itself up in stature, but reached its peak recently under the leadership of Sir Bhagwant Singhi, who instigated a number of changes in policy such as making education compulsory for women as well as a number of tax reforms.

Tourism in Gondal

Most cities in India have several temples within them.  Gondal, on the other hand, has a number of palaces available for tourism.  One of the most frequently visited by tourists would be the Riverside Palace located right beside the Gondali river.  One fact that will be mentioned on every tour would be that this was made by Maharajah Bhagwat Sinhji for his son, Yuvraj Bhojraji.  Two major sitting rooms are in this palace, and they stand out because the two are extremely opposite in design.  One follows the colonial design, decorated with antique furniture and a huge chandelier.  The other room, usually referred to as the Indian room, is decorated with bead-work, brass-ware and paintings that boast of Indian culture.  Other sitting rooms are in the house, and they have awesome views of either the river or the garden.

The Naulakha palace is the oldest palace in the city, created during the 17^th century.  It is known for its beauty because of the several balconies that are around the palace, as well as the exquisite stone carvings found on the walls.  Tours of the palace would have the guests see arches and pillars scattered around the palace, and each one would considered a work of art due to the images and designs on them.

One active palace, known as the Huzoor palace, has a wing that is also open for tours.  This area gains a lot from tourism because of the amount of plants and animals that are in the area.  A lot of tours are organized so that people can watch the wildlife from afar and appreciate their beauty.  Also, there is the room of miniatures within this wing of the palace that displays a collection of paintings and antique furniture.

These are among the few sites that may be visited in Gondal.  So many others are available, and each one has a different item to appreciate.  One thing is certain though, and that is any visit to Gondal would result in a curiosity about India in general, and if this visit is taken, then it won't be the last.  Don't hesitate, but take the plunge and learn about a new culture during a vacation.  It would be the best vacation that one could ever have.