The sprawling Laxmi Vilas Palace in Gujarat is regarded by many as the world’s largest private residence as it is bigger in size than the iconic Buckingham Palace in the UK. The owner of Laxmi Vilas Palace is the Gaekwad family of Baroda. It is to be noted that the Gaekwads are the erstwhile rulers of Baroda and they still enjoy a lot of respect among the people of Baroda. HRH Samarjitsinh Gaekwad is the head of the family. He is married to Radhikaraje Gaekwad who belongs to Wankaner royal family.
According to Housing.com, Laxmi Vilas Palace is spread over an area of 3,04,92,000 square feet, while Buckingham Palace covers 8,28,821 square feet. Notably, Mukesh Ambani's Antilia, which is the most expensive residence in the world with an estimated price tag of Rs 15000 crore, spans 48,780 square feet. Laxmi Vilas Palace has over 170 rooms. It was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890, at a cost of about GBP 180,000.
Born on July 19, 1978, Radhikaraje Gaekwad’s father Dr MK Ranjitsinh Jhala, was the first member of the royal family to give up his title and decided to serve as an IAS officer. Radhikaraje Gaekwad has completed her Master's degree from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University. Before tying the knot with Maharaja Samarjitsinh Gaekwad in 2002, she worked as a journalist.
Radhikraje one said in an interview that though she was born in royal family her life in Delhi was "very ordinary". Radhikaraje remembered that , remembering that she used to go to school in public buses. "We led a very ordinary life, so when I visited Wankaner during summer holidays, I'd be amused by the attention people gave me," the Maharani Of Baroda told Humans of Bombay in her interview.
