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When most royals furnished their palaces with gold and silk, Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II of Indore embraced modern luxury and commissioned dazzling, crystal-filled interiors.
News18
The royal family was celebrated in the era of kings and queens in India for their lavish lifestyles. However, there were very few who had a modern touch to their lifestyle and among these was Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II of Indore. While many members of India’s royal family favored traditional palaces during the 1930s, Maharaja Holkar created a modernist marvel in the form of his own royal palace called Manek Bagh, which was furnished with exclusive artwork and crystal designs.
This stunning piece of architectural design, designed by German architect Eckart Muthesius between 1930 and 1939, was something extraordinary. The Royal Palace is inspired by the Bauhaus architectural style along with Art Deco interiors. The Maharaja personally supervised much of the work that went into building Manek Bagh with some of the best European designers.
Among the palace’s most extraordinary features is the extensive use of crystal. Holkar commissioned and owns an exquisite collection of crystal objects from the famous French luxury house Baccarat, whose creations have already been appreciated by royal families around the world. Baccarat crystal services, decorative pieces and lighting elements are incorporated throughout the palace, lending an ethereal radiance to its interiors.
The Maharaja’s private quarters were particularly luxurious. Instead of relying on heavy traditional furnishings, he adopted sophisticated European design. Bedrooms feature custom furniture, innovative materials and sumptuous décor designed to establish a modern property. Crystal elements were essential components of this concept, making the palace famous as an example of the modern luxury associated with Holkar Palace.
What made the project special was not only its cost, but also its ambition. Holkar has commissioned pieces from famous designers such as Eileen Gray, Jean Puiforcat, Jan Berzel, and Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann. The palace also features custom-designed aluminum beds, custom lighting, and a collection of crystal and silver objects collected from Europe’s finest luxury homes.
Visitors and historians often describe Manek Bagh as one of the most sophisticated royal residences ever seen in Asia. While many princely palaces displayed inherited wealth, Holkar’s residence reflects a carefully curated vision of modern elegance. The crystal-lined interiors were seen to represent a king who dared to look beyond tradition and chose designs that were truly international in nature.
Nowadays, the majority of the furniture that was initially housed there can be found in auction houses and museums, but the legend of the Maharaja’s Crystal Palace is still alive and well. It is one of the most interesting cases of how an Indian king created a piece of art from his house.
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