Wankaner
derives its name from the geographical feature related to the location of
the town: 'Wanka' means a bend and 'ner' means water stream in Gujarati.
Wankaner literally means a bend on the stream and it is located on the
bend of the Machchhu river.
The Jhala Rajput clan ruled
Wankaner, the capital of the former princely State of Wankaner, till
Indian independence in 1947 AD. It was one of the four princely states of
Jhalawad, other three being- Wadhvan, Limbdi and Dhangadhra.
Sartanji
founded the princely State of Wankaner in 1605 AD and the town was
fortified in the late 18th century for protection against the bandits and
neighboring enemies. King Amarsinhji, a noble ruler, who made Wankaner a
rich city-state, ruled Wankaner up till 1947 AD.
Under the
patronage of Amarsinhji, 5 palaces and many bungalows were built and named
after the rulers of the princely States of Kutch, Rajkot, Mayurbhanj and
Jamnagar.
Amarsinhji built the Ranjit Vilas Palace on a hill,
overlooking Wankaner town. It took seven years to complete (1907-14 AD)
and was designed by Amarsinhji himself. It was inaugurated by and named
after his dear friend Jam Ranjitsinhji of Jamnagar. The ground of the
palace extends to two hundred and twenty five acres. The state guesthouse,
Chandra Bhavan is also located in the same campus in the vicinity of the
Ranjit Vilas Palace.
Ranjit Vilas Palace is a very eclectic
building, a bold attempt to sythesise various architectural styles. The
front and back facades are appropriately designed in response to its
location. The receding volumes, on the front, creating a series of
terraces culminating in two beautifully designed pavilions with gothic
arches. The back facade, on the town side, really establishes the palace
as an impressive landmark. The seven storied central clock tower capped by
a Mughal dome and two five storied high bastions, at both the corners,
culminate in hexagonal chhatris. The facade has arcades of arched
Victorian windows Italianate pillars, Gothic arches and classical
parapets. A massive Dutch roof spans the central wing of the palace. A
double staircase is the unique feature of the interior of this palace,
where the royal ladies could ascend and descend without being seen by men.
A similar double staircase at Chateau de Chambord, Loire, France, dating
to the Renaissance period, inspired this staircase.
Ranjit Vilas
Palace has a memorable collection of swords, shields and daggers, 95
species of stuffed animals, duelling pistols, pig sticking spears, silver,
linen chests, silver-plated howdahs, thrones, paintings and portraits. The
palace has magnificent spiraling marble staircase, stained glass
galleries, chandeliers and period furniture. The garage, on the grounds of
the palace complex, has Vintage cars like the 1921 Rolls Royce Silver
Ghost, some imposing American cars and horse drawn carriages. The palace
also has a stable of Kathiawadi horses. There are large grounds with
beautiful Italianate fountains.
Wankaner also has a step well,
the last one to be built in Gujarat. In the royal oasis complex, the
3-storied step well, has 2 underground floors with cool subterranean
marble rooms, fine sculptures and a fountain.
Wankaner was among
the first few royal families of India to convert their palaces into
Heritage Hotels, which have guestrooms, maintained in the original royal
style.
Excursion : Morbi (Green Chowk, Darbargadh,
Art Deco Palace, Wellingdon Secretariat, railway station, Nehru Gate,
Lakhdhirjee Engineering College) 27 km, Halvad (Ek-dandia Mahal-wooden
palace, cenotaphs of warriors-chhatris, step wells, Shiva Temples) 75 km
Travel Information : Air : Nearest airport
is Rajkot (53 km), Ahmedabad (220 km) Rail : Wankaner City on
Ahmedabad-Rajkot railway line Road : Rajkot (53 km),
Ahmedabad (220 km) Local transport : Non-metered auto
rickshaws Accommodation : Several local guest houses and
Heritage Hotels- Royal Oasis and The Residency Food : local
eating joints and restaurants at Heritage hotels
Home »States » Gujarat
» Wankaner City Guide