The Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum is located within the premises of the magnificent Maharaja’s palace named Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, Gujarat. Visitors get to see a huge collection of sculptures. The sculptures are said to be works of great masters of the past. These artists were of Indian as well as foreign origin.

The museum houses art belonging to the royal family. Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III had collected many works of art for the museum during his trips to places outside India. Therefore, paintings belonging to several Indian and European artists have been housed in this museum. Visitors tend to be spellbound with the work of Raja Ravi Varma that has still been preserved in the museum. His paintings are based on Hindu mythology, which made him popular even in those times.

The collection in the museum includes portraits of the members of the royal family. A visit to this museum will give you the feel of the magnificence and grandeur that the royal families in the ancient times enjoyed. The museum attracts many tourists every year due to its situation amidst palatial beauty and sprawling lawns.

History

The city of Baroda was popularly known as Sanskari Nagari meaning the city with a different culture. The Peshwas and the Mughals added to the rich heritage of the city by building charming monuments, palatial gardens, palaces and museums. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III built this amazing palace in 1890. The Lakshmi Vilas Palace is said to be the size of the Buckingham Palace, and equally grand. It was built with all present-day amenities such as elevators and interiors much like that of a huge European country house.

The Fateh Singh Museum was used as a school for the children of the Maharaja as it lies within the premises of the palace. The museum showcases artwork from the 19th and 20th centuries. It comprises European, Indian and Greco-Roman miniature paintings and artifacts.

Sections of the Museum

Art Collection

The sculptures displayed in the museum are made from marble, terracotta and bronze. Works of art by great artists like Fellici can also be seen here. Visitors will also find beautiful portraits of the members of the royal family here. The unique collection depicts artwork from all over the world. The most popular art work at the museum are the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, who was known for his depiction of Hindu mythology. He was personally deployed by the Maharaja to work for the royal family.

Oriental Gallery

The oriental gallery has Chinese and Japanese sculptures.

Major Tourist Attractions near the Museum

Sayaji Garden or Kamati Baug

The work of the Italian artist named Fellici beautifies the Sayaji Garden. His artwork has been used to decorate the museum as well as the Lakshmi Vilas Palace. The Kamati Baug is a major tourist attraction in itself. It is the largest garden in the western part of India with an area of 113 acres. The garden is also home to a huge variety of flora and fauna. This place is famous for the Kamati Baug Museum, picture gallery and the Sardar Patel Planetarium.

The Sayaji Baug Zoo is home to several species of birds, 1103 animals of 167 different types, Asiatic lions and a lot more. The Gaekwad Dynasty gifted the garden with the Toy Train to enable children of age 12 years and below to get a panoramic view of the garden.

Floral Clock

The Floral Clock has seconds, minute and hour hands moving on the dial of diameter 20 feet or 6.1 meter.

Among other places to visit near the museum are the Moti Bagh Stadium, Kirti Stambh and Shri Aurobindo Niwas.

Information for the Visitor

Timings: The museum is open from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. The museum stays closed on Mondays and on every government holiday.

Entry fee: For Indians the Entry fee is Rs. 25/- and for foreigners it is Rs. 100/-.