Amba Vilas Palace – Mysore Palace, Mysore, India

The royal palace in Mysore is named the Amba Vilas Palace (meaning house of goddess Parvati), but is more commonly known as the Mysore Maharaja's Palace. The Mysore Palace is one of the many grand palaces located in Mysore, a small city of palaces in southern India. It was first commissioned by the Wodeyar kings in the 14th century, but was re-built many times since then.

Exterior facade of the grand Mysore Palace in India

The current Mysore Palace of the Wodeyar Maharajas, as it now stands, was commissioned in 1897 by Queen Vani Vilas Sannidhna. It took around 15 years to build this beautiful palace, and construction was finally finished in 1912. In 1940, the Amba Vilas Palace was expanded to include a few more rooms and the ornate Public Darbar Hall wing.

The architecture of the Mysore Palace is generally described as Indo-Saracenic, and was designed by a British architect named Henry Irwin. The palace is a unique blend of the Rajput, Muslim, Hindu and Gothic architectural styles, and has beautiful designs in multiple colours, across the walls and ceilings. The Amba Vilas Palace is spread over three floors, and has a grand tower that measures 145 feet.

One of the ornate corridors in the grand Mysore Maharaja's Palace

The walls of the Mysore palace building are made from fine grey granite, while the domes are made from deep pink marble. There are seven huge arches on the façade of the palace, with two small arches on either side of the main central arch. A beautiful sculpture of the Goddess Gajalakshmi stands above the central arch of the Mysore Palace. Around the palace is a beautiful garden, with paths and landscaping work.

Some of the important areas of the Amba Vilas Palace in Mysore are:

• The Ambavilasa Room: This room was used by the king for entertaining private audiences. It has beautiful gilded columns, stained glass ceilings, decorative steel grills and sparkling chandeliers with fine floral motifs. The floor of the palace is decorated with precious stones and is highly polished. 
• The Doll’s Pavilion: Also known as Gombe Thotti, the Doll’s Pavilion is a room with displays of traditional dolls and sculptures, both Indian and Europeans, from the 18th and 19th centuries. 
• The Kalyana Mantapa: This is the grand marriage hall. It is an octagonal-shaped pavilion with a ceiling made from stained glass in multiple hues. The main patterns on this ornate glass ceiling are peacock motifs and geometrical patterns.

The golden throne (howdah) in one of the royal darbar halls (throne halls)  

The Mysore Palace has two ceremonial meeting halls, also known as durbar halls, in which the royal court used to meet for official business. Both halls are beautifully gilded, and decorated with gold-coloured items and royal maroon curtains. The descendants of the Wodeyar kings continue to live in a section of the palace, till date. However, as India is a democratic republic, the royal family has no political or administrative power of any kind, nor can they use the title of 'Maharaja or Maharani'.

During the months of September and October, the famous Dasara festival is celebrated at the Mysore Palace, for which the entire palace is illuminated with rows of lights, numbering around 96,000. The golden throne is also displayed to the people during this period.

Mysore Palace illuminated for the Dussehra festival

The Mysore Palace in India is open daily from 10.00am to 5.30 pm. Tickets are priced at 200 INR for foreign tourists and 40 INR for Indian tourists. Visitors are required to remove their footwear before entering the palace. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the palace, but you can take photos from outside.

What do you think of the beautiful Amba Vilas Palace in Mysore, India? Would you like to visit it?

The Royal Palace – Bangkok, Thailand

The Royal Palace in Bangkok, Thailand is also known as the Grand Palace, and is one of the most spectacular former royal-residences in the world. It was constructed in 1782, on the order of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I), the founder of the Chakri Dynasty of Thailand.

Exterior of Bangkok's Royal Palace with golden pagodas

The Royal Palace in Bangkok is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, in the middle of Rattanakosin Island. It is rectangular in shape, and is spread over an area of 218,400 square metres. This area also contains numerous halls, buildings and pavilions, decorated with traditional Thai designs and golden pagodas. These buildings are set amidst beautiful gardens, courtyards and lush lawns.

Bangkok’s Grand Palace remained the royal residence of the King of Thailand for about 150 years, until the royalty themselves moved to other palaces in the city. When the Royal Palace was used by the Thai King, the palace also housed various government offices like the war ministry, the mint and state departments.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha - Wat Phra Kaew

The Royal Palace in Bangkok has a number of beautiful buildings within its complex, which are worth a visit. This includes the:

• Temple of the Emerald Buddha: Also known as Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha contains a much-revered statue of the Buddha, sitting in the cross-legged position. This statue was carved out from a single block of Jade in the 14th century. 
• Outer Court: The outer court of the Grand Palace contained the offices of various government departments that the Thai King was directly involved in. For example: army, treasury and civil administration. 
• Central Court: The central court of the Royal Palace in Bangkok contained the living quarters of the King, and throne halls for conducting royal business. 
• Inner Court: The inner court is the area where the King’s consorts and daughters lived. Only women and boys under puberty were allowed in this section of the Thai Royal Palace.

The Royal Reception Hall

The majestic reception hall of the Royal Palace is still used for coronations and other ceremonial functions of the Thai Royal family. It houses an antique throne, on which the old Thai kings used to sit, before the European-style throne was introduced to the palace.

Statue of the Emerald Buddha made from jade

Currently, the Grand Palace of Bangkok is open to the public as a museum and tourist attraction. The present King of Thailand lives at the Chitralada Palace, and comes to the Royal Palace only during state or religious functions, such as during the festival of the Emerald Buddha.

If you are visiting the Royal Palace in Thailand, it is important that you dress according to the dress code, or you may be denied entry. Both men and women must be fully covered with thick shirts and pants, and should be wearing socks on their feet. People without appropriate clothing can borrow clothes from a clothes rental booth near the palace entrance.

Gold statuettes adorning the walls of the Grand Palace in Thailand

The Royal Palace in Bangkok, Thailand is open everyday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, unless the palace is being used for a royal function (which hardly ever happens). Tickets cost 400 baht or about US $13, and also includes the entry charges for the Vimanmek Palace, the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall and other monuments around Bangkok. Photography is not allowed inside the palace.

What do you think of the beautiful Royal Palace or Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand? Do you plan a visit soon?

The Summer Palace in Beijing, China

The Summer Palace in Beijing, China, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. It is called Yihe Yuan in Chinese, which can be translated into the ‘gardens of nurtured harmony’. The Summer Palace in China is one of the largest palaces in the world, and is spread over an area of 2.9 kilometres, which includes the Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill.

The Summer Palace in Beijing, China with Kunming Lake

In fact, the Kunming Lake is a man-made lake, and the soil that was dug out of it was used to make Longevity Hill. Around the hill are numerous halls and pavilions, including the imposing Summer Palace or Yíhé Yuán palace. The gardens of the palace are decorated with temples, bridges and pavilions, and are an outstanding example of Chinese landscape gardening.

The Summer Palace in China was commissioned by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty in 1749, who gave the hill on which it stands its current name of ‘Longevity Hill’. It was destroyed during the Opium War, and later reconstructed by Emperor Guangxu as a summer resort for Empress Dowager Cixi. During this period, the Empress ordered for 30 million taels of silver to be used for revamping the palace.

Beautiful Chinese designs on the walls of the Summer Palace in Beijing

In total, there are more than 3,000 ancient structures in the Summer Palace area, which includes majestic pavilions, towers, bridges, corridors and temples. Some of the most beautifully designed buildings are located on the south side of Longevity Hill. These include the Cloud-Dispelling Hall, the Temple of Buddhist Virtue, the Tower of Buddhist Incense and the Sea of Wisdom Temple.

The Summer Palace is divided into three areas, one for political and administrative functions, one for the residence of the Emperor and his family, and the third is the imperial garden for recreation and beauty. There are beautiful lakes and streams meandering through the gardens of the Summer Palace. Buildings and other architectural creations in the area are adorned with exquisite Chinese motifs and designs.

Jade Belt Bridge in the imperial gardens of Beijing's Summer Palace

Today, the Summer Palace is a public park, and can be freely accessed from the city of Beijing through public transport. It is also on UNESCO’s renowned list of World Heritage Sites, mainly due to its tumultuous history and picturesque gardens. Most visitors to this Chinese palace give positive reviews about the place.

What do you think of the Summer Palace in Beijing, China? Would you like to visit it for a holiday?

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

The People’s Palace in Glasgow, Scotland

The People's Palace is a small red stone building located on Glasgow Green, in Glasgow, Scotland. It was established in January 1898 by the Earl of Rosebery as a cultural center for the people of Glasgow, and was one of the first palaces to be open to ordinary people. The architecture of The People’s Palace was designed by Alexander B. McDonald, an engineer of Glasgow town.

People's Palace in Glasgow, Scotland

Today, the Glasgow People’s Palace is a museum, which contains displays about the social history of Glasgow, from 1750 to the current year. While there are exhibits and films on the ground and first floors, the third floor holds a small picture gallery.

Interior of People's Palace Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

Some of the displays in the People’s Palace are the ‘Single End Home’ (a one-room house), ‘The Steamie’ (a group laundry system), Billy Connolly’s banana boots, ‘Dancing at the Barrowlands’ (ballroom dancing), and various World War Two exhibits.

In the nineties, an artist named Ken Currie was commissioned to create a number of paintings on the ceiling dome of the People’s Palace and Museum. These paintings show the history of workers in Glasgow, and depict the Carlton Weavers Massacre, which happened in 1787.

Doulton Fountain in People's Palace in Glasgow, Scotland

The People’s Palace also has a beautiful fountain, named the Doulton Fountain, outside its main entrance. The Doulton Fountain is the world’s largest terracotta fountain, and measures a massive 46 feet in height, and 70 feet in width. It has a figure of Queen Victoria and statues of people representing different parts of the erstwhile-British Empire (like Canada, Australia, India and South Africa). This majestic fountain was made to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887.

The Winter Garden Glasshouse in Glasgow, Scotland

At the side of The People’s Palace in Glasgow is the Winter Gardens, a stylish Victorian glasshouse garden filled with brilliantly coloured tropical plants. The Winter Garden holds a range of flower exhibitions and events all year-round, which is always a treat to see. There is also a small café in The People’s Palace glasshouse, which serves up Scottish confections and coffee.

The People’s Palace is open on all days from 11:00am to 5:00 pm, except on Mondays. The Winter Gardens of the palace are open daily, from 10:00am to 5:00pm. While no royal family has ever stayed here, it is still a palace – The People’s Palace.

What do you think of The People’s Palace in Glasgow? Would you like a palace museum like it in your own country?

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

The Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia – 1,500 Rooms

The Winter Palace in Palace Square in St.Petersburg, Russia, is the palace with the beautiful gold onion dome, seen in picture postcards from Russia. In fact, this golden onion dome is actually the dome of the majestic church within the beautiful Winter Palace, called the Grand Church. Located between the Palace Embankment and the Palace Square, Russia’s Winter Palace runs alongside the Neva River, and was the resident palace of Russia’s royalty from 1732 - 1739.

Exterior of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, with the Grand Church dome 

The architecture of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg was designed by a range of famous architects, the most famous of whom was Bartolomeo Rastrelli. The architectural style of the palace is known as the Elizabethan Baroque style. Russia’s Winter Palace is shaped like an elongated rectangle, with a main façade that is 250 metres long. The palace is extremely huge, and has a whopping 1,500 lavishly decorated rooms, with a total of 1,786 doors, 1,945 windows and 117 staircases.

One of the bedrooms in the Winter Palace, with intricate gold parquetry work

The Winter Palace is actually a collection of small palaces, with rooms assigned to each royal family member according to rank and line. The interior architecture of the Winter Palace is a combination of Baroque and Neoclassical architecture. There are three floors in this majestic Russian palace. The rooms of members of the Russian royal family are on the first floor; the offices of the bureaucracy and government are on the ground floor; while the quarters of senior courtiers and officials are located on the second floor.

The thousand of servants who ran the palace lived in the attics of the Winter Palace, in small servant’s quarters. Some even managed to smuggle cows up there for milk.

The grand Malachite drawing room in St.Petersburg's Winter Palace

 Other beautiful rooms in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg in Russia are:

• The Malachite Drawing Room: This room was the principal reception room of the Empress. 
• The Gold Drawing Room: This is the reception hall of the Empress’ daughter-in-law. 
• The White Hall: This is yet another reception hall in the Winter Palace, which belonged to the Tsar and the Tsarina. 
• The Jordon Staircase: This staircase is one of the few features of the Winter Palace that is constructed in the original 18th century Rococo architectural style, a remnant of the original palace that burnt down in the early 1800s. 
• The Grand Church: All Russian royal weddings were held in this church, strictly according to tradition. The bride was dressed by the Empress, in a wedding dress specified by the strict conventions of the Romanov Tsars.

The majestic Jordan Staircase of the Winter Palace with grey-granite columns

The Russian royal family is known to have thrown lavish parties at the Winter Palace, which was always luxuriously decorated. The grand dining table could seat about 1,000 guests, while the state rooms could hold up to 10,000 people (standing) at a time. All rooms in the Winter Palace were brightly lit and heated to an extent that tropical plants blossomed inside, even when it was freezing cold outside. As there was no electricity in those days (mid-18th century), all chandeliers were lit with candlesticks, and there were candlesticks, lanterns and fireplaces all around to provide light and heat.

Today, the Winter Palace in Russia is part of the State Hermitage Museum, and is generally visited by all tourists and visitors who come to the city of St. Petersburg in Russia.

What do you think of the beautiful Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia? Would you have liked to live here in the 18th century?

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

The Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii

The Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States of America to be used as a residence by a ruling monarch. It is situated in downtown Honolulu, in the island state of Hawaii. The Iolani Palace was constructed in 1882, by King David Kalakaua, the last king of Hawaii. It continued to be a royal residence till 1893, when Queen Lili-uokalani, the successor of King Kalakaua (his sister), was deposed and the monarchy overthrown by the USA.

Features of the Iolani Palace

The architecture of the Ionani Palace has a strong European influence. It was designed by Thomas J. Baker, Charles J. Wall and Isaac Moore, and cost a huge sum of $340,000 to build (a large amount at that time). The royal Ionani Palace was far ahead of its time. This beautiful palace had electricity and telephones, many years before they were installed in the White House. Electricity was used to operate the light system, while the phone system connected telephones within the royal residence. The Ionani Palace also had flush toilets.

The Iolani Palace in Hawaii measures 140 feet by 100 feet, and is two stories tall. It has four towers in the four corners, and two central towers, which measure 76 feet. On the first floor of the Iolani Palace is a grand hall facing the koa wood staircase. The interior of this hall is decorated with ornamental plaster. The blue room is another beautiful room at the Iolani Palace. It has a large portrait of King Louis Philippe of France, and a koa wood piano that was used by the Queen to entertain guests.

The interiors of the Ionani Palace in Honolulu, are richly decorated, and reflected the lavish tastes of King Kalakaua and his sister Queen Lili-uokalani. It features ornate furniture, an exquisite koa staircase, portraits of Hawaiian royalty members, and expensive gifts that the Hawaiian kings received from around the world. Some rooms at the Ionani Palace that are must-sees are the throne room, the living quarters of the royal family and Queen Liliuokalani’s bedroom, where she was imprisoned.

After the Queen was overthrown, the Iolani Palace was used as the capital building for the provincial government for a short period, before it was deserted. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1962. In 1978, the Iolani Palace underwent extensive renovation, and currently, it stands as a museum. Various royal articles are displayed on the basement level of the museum, including swords, royal jewellery, and the two golden crowns of the king and queen.

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Al Alam Palace, Muscat, Oman
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

The Palace of Justice in Bucharest, Romania

The Palace of Justice, or Palatul Justitiei in Romanian, is located on Splaiul Independentei in the city of Bucharest in Romania. It exterior of the palace was designed by Albert Ballu (a French architect) in the French Renaissance style, while the interiors were finished by Ion Mincu. The construction began in 1890, after King Charles I laid the foundation stone, and was completed by 1895. After completion, the palace received rave reviews from the press, as being one of most exquisite buildings in the world.

Features of the Palace of Justice in Buchrest, Romania

The exterior façade of The Palace of Justice in Bucharest-Romania has six massive pillars and law-themed statues sculpted by famous sculptor Karl Stork. These statues have names related to law, such as ‘justice’, ‘truth’, ‘eloquence’, ‘vigour’, ‘attention’ and ‘law’. There are two other statues on the roof, named ‘strength’ and ‘prudence’. The Palace of Justice is spread over an area of 33,235 metres square, and has three floors. It also has 690 rooms. Some rooms in the Palace of Justice have been named after legal luminaries, such as Ion Tanoviceanu and Andrei Radulescu.

Interior of Palace of Justice in Bucharest, Romania

The most important room at The Palace of Justice is the ‘Hall of the Clock’. This room got its name from the fact that a clock once stood in the room that measured the time spent in it. When Ceasusescu (the socialist ruler) came into power, he began destroying all buildings owned by royals in Romania. In 1990, he intended to destroy the Palace of Justice as it was an unsafe building. He wished to construct a socialist palace in its place, but was prevented from doing so by the Revolution.

Exterior of Palace of Justice in Bucharest, Romania

As the Palace of Justice is located on the banks of the Dambovita River, it has been damaged many times, mainly by water seepage and earthquakes. The last restoration was done from 2003-2006. While the front part of the The Palace of Justice holds the Bucharest Court of Appeal and The Sector 5 Court, the back part of the palace accommodates a small prison.

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Al Alam Palace, Muscat, Oman
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Turkey

Dolmabahce Palace is a splendid palace situated on the Bosphorus Strait coastline, in the Besiktas district of Istanbul, Turkey. It was once the main centre of the Ottoman Empire in Turkey (1856 – 1922). The Dolmabahce Palace was commissioned by Sultan Abdulmecid I (the 31st Sultan of the Empire), and was constructed by Ottoman court architects between 1843 and 1856. It was the main residence of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first President of Turkey, where he lived with his adopted children.

The construction of the Dolmabahce Palace in Turkey cost five million Ottoman gold coins, which equals about 35 tonnes of gold. In fact, gold is extensively used in the decoration of the palace, which includes the palace’s gold-leaf gilded ceilings. Crystal is another recurring theme. Tourists and visitors can view the expensive interiors of this Turkish palace only on guided tours, and are not permitted to roam around freely.

The Dolmabahce Palace near Istanbul is spread over an area of 110,000 square metres, with the palace itself occupying 45,000 square metres. It is the largest palace in Turkey. The palace has diverse design elements from the Rococo, Baroque and Neo-Classical architectural styles; while blending traditional features from Ottoman palace life and Turkish homes. It consists of 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths or hamams, and 68 toilets.

Some of the exquisite features of the Dolmabahce Palace in Turkey are:

• Crystal Chandeliers: The Dolmabahce Palace has the world’s largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers. In fact, it also has the largest Bohemian crystal chandelier in the world. Hanging from the ceiling in the central hall above the carpeted crystal staircase, this crystal chandelier was a gift from Britain’s Queen Victoria. It has 750 lamps, and weighs an astounding 4.5 tonnes.
• Imperial Garden: It is from this beautiful garden that the palace gets its name. The word ‘Dolmabahce’ comes from the Turkish words ‘dolma’ meaning filled, and ‘bahce’ meaning garden. This garden was actually a part of the stunning blue Bosporus bay, which was gradually reclaimed or ‘filled-in’.
• Crystal Staircase: The Dolmabahce Palace has an ornate crystal staircase shaped like a double-horseshoe. This staircase is constructed out of Baccarat crystal, mahogany wood, and brass. The palace also has other luxurious features like red Hereke carpets, upholstery and drapes; and 150-year-old bearskin rugs from Russia.
• Paintings: Some of the paintings at the Dolmabahce Palace near Istanbul are the Surre Procession by Stefano Ussi, the Paris Municipal Theatre Fire by Rudolph Ernst, and the Dutch Village Girl by Delandre.

The Dolmabahce Palace is open to tourists from 9.00am to 3.00pm on all days, except Mondays and Thursdays. Backpacks and large purses need to be checked-in at a baggage counter, and stringent metal-detector security checks are performed.

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Al Alam Palace, Muscat, Oman
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

Al Alam Palace of Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, Oman

The Al Alam Palace is the magnificent home of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of Oman. This palace is located in Muscat, the capital city of Oman, near wide open spaces and the splendid forts of Al Jalali and Al Mirani. These forts have been built on cliff tops, and offer a spectacular view of the palace and the city of Muscat below.

The Al Alam Palace of Sultan Qaboos of Oman is located in a high-security area measuring about 1.5 kilometres square. It consists of several ultra-luxurious residences, as well as two helipads and a super-yacht berth. The Al Alam Palace is believed to have luxuriously decorated interiors, and hi-tech amenities.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said was born in 1940 in Dhofar, and did some of his education in Pune, India. He later joined the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in Britain, and served in Germany for one year. Sultan Qaboos later overthrew his father to take the throne, in which he was supported by the British government. He then established an absolute monarchy. This is when the Al Alam Palace was renovated, and many new luxurious features incorporated.

As visitors are not allowed inside the Al Alam Palace of Sultan Qaboos in Oman, normal tourists cannot click photos of the interiors. However, here is a photo of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, while she was on an official tour of Oman, and was invited inside the Muscat palace.

Are you interested in visiting the Al Alam Palace of Sultan Qaboos in Muscat? What do you think of this beautiful palace?

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

Queluz Palace near Lisbon, Portugal

The Queluz Palace is a magnificent royal palace situated in the town of Queluz, near Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. This pink palace resembles the Versailles Palace, and boasts of the finest example of Rococo architecture in the whole of Portugal. The Queluz Palace was constructed in the 17th century as a manor house for King Pedro II. It was later expanded, and turned into a majestic palace, with grandiose rooms for balls and banquets.

One of the most beautiful rooms in the Queluz Palace is the elegant Throne Room, which is adorned with mirrors, gilded statues and crystal chandeliers. Check out the photo of the Throne Room below. Other rooms in this palace are the Music Room (for concerts and orchestras), the Ambassador’s Room (with marble flooring and a ceiling painting of the royal family), the Gun Room (painted with frescoes of trees and foliage), the Kings’s master bedroom, the Queen’s Boudoir, and a square room with murals from the ‘Don Quixote’ novel.

Throne Room in Queluz National Palace, Lisbon, Portugal

The other rooms at the Queluz Palace in Portugal are decorated with Arraiolos carpets, fine porcelain and bespoke English and French furniture. All rooms at the palace are decorated with gilded woodcarvings, in traditional Portuguese style, with many having portraits of the Portuguese royal family. In fact, the architecture of the Queluz Palace represents the final extravagant period of Portuguese culture, which came about after gold was discovered in Brazil in 1690.

The erstwhile royal kitchen of the Queluz National Palace is today a bustling restaurant named The Cozinha Velha, which is renowned for its delicious traditional desserts. This restaurant has preserved some of the old architectural features of the palace, including an old stone chimney, a vaulted ceiling and grand arches. There was also a royal chapel in the Queluz Palace, where the royal family used to attend mass daily.

Rococo Exterior of Queluz Palace

The Queluz National Palace in Lisbon also has a beautiful formal garden, which is decorated with fountains, and ornate statues of classical mythological figures. The ‘Hanging Garden’ is a small garden within this garden, which is located on a raised terrace, surrounded by a three-walled courtyard. There is also a beautiful canal, lined with blue and yellow azulejo tiles, within the Queluz Palace complex. The Portuguese royal family often used to take quiet boat rides along this water canal.

Today, the premises of the Queluz Palace in Portugal are used for musical concerts, as well as for state receptions for visiting heads of states, diplomats and other foreign government officials. Some famous dignitaries who have stayed at this Lisbon Palace are Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and President Eisenhower.

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Al Alam Palace, Muscat, Oman
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

Schönbrunn Palace – Vienna, Austria

Schönbrunn Palace is a beautiful imperial palace near Vienna in Austria, which was commissioned in the late 17th century by Emperor Leopold II. It was designed by Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, a talented Baroque architect. While originally it was meant to serve only as a hunting lodge for the heir to the throne, later on a splendid Rococo edifice was built. The Schonbrunn Palace is today a World Heritage Site.

Schönbrunn means ‘beautiful spring’, and the Schönbrunn Palace has a small artesian well inside its premises, from which the Palace probably got its name. The Viennese palace has more than a thousand rooms, most of which are decorated in the Rococo style, with white-lacquered walls and ceilings, decorated with gold leaf. The exquisite design of the Schönbrunn Palace also includes the presence of sparkling Bohemian crystal chandeliers and white porcelain tile stoves.

While the Emperor’s master bedroom is quite simple, the state rooms and guestrooms are lavishly decorated. Some of the magnificent rooms at the Schönbrunn Palace in Austria are the Hall of Mirrors, the Round Chinese Room, the Blue Chinese Salon, and the Room of Millions. In fact, the Room of Millions at this Austian palace is considered to be the most opulent Rococo room ever constructed, because of its rosewood panelling, and expensive Indian and Persian miniature paintings.

Schönbrunn Palace Gardens

The Schönbrunn Palace has a beautifully landscaped garden space named the Grand Parterre, which lies between the palace and the Sun Fountain. This French garden was planned by Jean Trehet in 1695, and contains many attractions, including a maze.

Some of the other attractions at this palace are an orangerie, a palm house, a botanical garden and an enclosure for Orangutans. Lining the paths of the Grand Parterre garden are 32 sculptures of virtues and deities.

The Gloriette at Schonbrunn Palace

The Gloriette is a sculpture on a 60 metre high hill within the palace grounds, which was crafted in 1775. This sculpture was commissioned by Maria Theresa (the wife of the Emperor), and was meant to glorify Habsburg power and the Just War. Today, the Gloriette houses a charming café, where tourists can taste some of Vienna’s finest delicacies, and enjoy a panoramic view of the city below.

Roman Ruins at Schönbrunn Palace

Previously known as the Ruins of Carthage, these roman ruins are not real roman ruins. In fact, they were designed as an architectural feature of the Schönbrunn Palace complex in 1778, by architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg. They were meant to add an aura of grandeur to the palace gardens. The Roman Ruins at Schönbrunn Palace consist of a rectangular pool, a fountain, lateral walls, and a massive arch.

After the downfall of the Habsburg monarchy in 1918, the Schönbrunn Palace was taken over by the government of the new Austrian republic, and converted into a museum. During the Second World War, the palace served as offices for military garrisons and delegations. Later on, the Schönbrunn Palace was used as a meeting and conference centre for leading statesmen, including John F. Kennedy.

Today, the Schönbrunn Palace is used for state receptions, whenever visiting heads of state come to Austria. Various movies were shot on the grounds of the Schönbrunn Palace, including the Sissi trilogy, A Breath of Scandal, The Great Race, and The Living Daylights (a James Bond film). Every year, more than five million tourists visit the Schönbrunn Palace complex on guided tours, for which tickets have to be purchased.

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Al Alam Palace, Muscat, Oman
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

Mohatta Palace in Karachi, Pakistan

This magnificent palace is located in the city of Karachi in Pakistan. It was constructed by Shivratan Chandraratan Mohatta, an ambitious Marwari businessman, in 1927, as his summer seaside home. However, Mohatta was able to use his palace for only two decades, as he decided to leave for India, soon after the Partition in 1947.


The Mohatta Palace is constructed in the same tradition as most stone palaces in Rajasthan with pink Jodhpur stone, together with the local yellow Gizri stone. This massive palace is spread over an area of 1,720 metres, and has nine domes. The façade of the palace is trimmed with balustrades, spandrels, stone brackets and ornate windows, each exquisitely carved with floral motifs, peacock motifs and other designs. The first floor has four large bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and dressing room. The palace also has four octagonal towers.


The furniture and doors of the Mohatta Palace are made entirely of teak wood, with the palace having an ornate polished staircase. It also has long corridors, and doors that open within doors. On the terrace of the Mohatta Palace is a lovely family temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

After Independence, the palace was acquired by the Pakistani government to house the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1964 to 1980, it was the private residence of Fatima and Shireen, the two sisters of President Jinnah. Today, the Mohatta Palace is a museum that exhibits the arts of Pakistan, and is open to visitors all through the year.

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Al Alam Palace, Muscat, Oman
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Busacco Palace, Luso, Portugal
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes

The Bussaco Palace in Luso, Portugal

The Bussaco Palace was constructed between 1888 and 1907, in the midst of a 250 acre woodland area, in the beautiful forest town of Luso in Portugal. It was designed by Italian architect Luigi Manini as a Romantic palace in the Neo-Manueline style, and originally served as a summer retreat for the Portuguese monarchy. However, as the construction of the palace was finished in 1907, only three years before the Republic was declared and monarchy ended, it was not used much as a royal residence.


The inner rooms of the palace are richly decorated with Neo-Manueline portals and stucco work, which imitates Manueline rib vaulting. On the inside walls of the palace, you will see stylish tile panels, which depict scenes from historical events and Portuguese literature. The interior of the Bussaco Palace has a classic Manueline style. All the rooms of the palace have exquisite antiques on display, as well as fine paintings adorning the walls.


Today, the Bussaco Palace in Portugal is a luxury hotel with a fantastic restaurant, and a renowned wine cellar boasting of the most incredible collection of Bucaco wines. The hotel has 60 bedrooms and six suites, all of which are luxuriously furnished and have the latest amenities. It is known as the Palacio do Bucaco in Portuguese.

Read about other beautiful palaces:

• Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
• Al Alam Palace, Muscat, Oman
• Queluz Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
• Mohatta Palace, Karachi, Pakistan
• Other Palaces and Expensive Homes