Royal Oasis
| Royal Oasis | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Town or city | Wankaner |
| Country | India |
| Website | |
| https://www.wankanerheritagehotels.com/ | |
Royal Oasis in Wankaner, Gujarat, India, was the former summer residence of the erstwhile royal family of Wankaner. It now operates as a heritage hotel.
History
[edit]The history of the Royal Oasis begins in the 1870s when Banesinhji erected a single-storey bungalow in colonial-style architecture for resting and named it Garden House.[1] After Banesinhji, his son and successor, Amarsinhji continued using it for the same purpose and would host his guests there.[1] In 1917, when Amarsinhji's daughter married Purna Chandra Bhanj Deo, the Maharaja of Mayurbhanj, he hosted them there and named it Purna Chandra Bhawan after his son-in-law.[1][2] Purna Chandra Bhawan means full-moon house.[3] In the 1930s, Amarsinhji commissioned the Chief Engineer of Wankaner State to build an extension to the original building, which consisted of two large suites, four other bedrooms, and additional rooms.[1] Afterward, Art Deco furniture was imported for it.[1] It is decorated with hunting trophies, weapons, and vintage cars.[4]
The family used it as their retreat during summer.[5] In 1972, Pratapsinhji gifted it to his son, Digvijaysinhji, who opened it as a hotel.[1] It is now a two-storey block in cream and white stucco with Corinthian plaster details.[6] It also has a swimming pool and spans an area of 225 acres.[1][7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Sugich, Michael (1992). Palaces of India : a traveller's companion featuring the palace hotels. Internet Archive. London : Pavilion. pp. 89–90. ISBN 978-1-85145-520-1.
- ^ Raulet, Sylvie; Garde, Anne (1997). Maharajas' Palaces: European Style in Imperial India. Vendome Press. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-86565-989-6.
- ^ Baroda), Fatesinhrao Gaekwad (Maharaja of (1980). The Palaces of India. Vendome Press. p. 183. ISBN 978-0-86565-007-7.
- ^ Bradnock, Robert; Bradnock, Roma (1996). India handbook. Internet Archive. Lincolnwood, IL. : Published in North America by Passport Books. p. 1367. ISBN 978-0-8442-4908-7.
- ^ Alastair Sawday's special places to stay, India. Internet Archive. Bristol : Alastair Sawday. 2003. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-901970-41-8.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ The Penguin guide to the monuments of India. Internet Archive. London, England ; New York, N.Y., USA : Viking. 1989. p. 399. ISBN 978-0-670-80696-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "Royal Oasis Wankaner". gujrattourism. Retrieved 13 January 2025.