Huzoor Palace, Gondal
The Huzoor Palace, currently the residence of the royal family, is located in Gondal, India. Its annex, or wing, is known as the Orchard Palace.
Huzoor Palace, perched on the hill‑top of Gondhan, is a private residence that rarely features on the usual Gujarat itinerary, but the occasional guided glimpse is worth the detour if you’re already in the Saurashtra belt. The red‑brick façade, a 19th‑century mash‑up of Indo‑Saracenic arches and colonial verandas, is best seen from the adjoining Orchard Palace courtyard at the golden hour, when the sun paints the domes a soft amber and the gardens of mango and pomegranate briefly burst into view. Access is limited to a pre‑booked tour through the Gondal Tourism Office – expect a modest fee and a strict no‑photography rule within the main hall, where the family’s marble thrones and a collection of vintage radios sit under a stained‑glass ceiling. Skip the overly‑curated souvenir shop on the ground floor; the real treat is the quiet tea served on the terrace, where you can watch the town’s bustling market below and the distant Vagdi River glinting past the old railway bridge. Stay the night at the Heritage Guest House on Palitana Road for a modest room and a homemade dhokla breakfast; otherwise you’ll waste the journey in a day‑trip that ends before sunset. The best months are November to February, when the heat eases and the monsoon‑laden roads to Rajkot and Junagadh stay passable.
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