'A reminder of Vadodara’s glorious past, the Laxmi Vilas Palace is one of the citys most prized monuments. It is here that the ruling royal family of Vadodara, the Gaekwads lived. The palace was built by the Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Competed in the year 1890, it was designed by the British architect Major Charles Mant. Combining the native as well as European architectural traits, the palace is a fine example of the Indo-Saracenic style. The Laxmi Vilas Palace even today continues to be home to the royal family. But being one of the largest palaces in the world, it also hosts several cultural activities.'