By Murli Menon

One is writing this from one’s garden facing suite at Orchard Palace Resort at Gondal which is a heritage hotel managed by the Royal family of Gondal. The most exciting part of the visit to Orchard Palace, is its location.  Orchard Palace is adjacent to Gondal antique and classic cars museum of the erstwhile Gondal State. This  royal collection of cars – Forty impressive vehicles, from a 1907 car made by the New Engine Company Acton and a 1935 vintage Mercedes saloon to racing cars raced by the present Maharaja of Gondal. Most are still in pristine working condition. The Delage D8, Daimler, and the grand 1935 Mercedes seven-seater saloon are some of the numerous heritage European cars of the 1920s and ’30s, which can be seen at Gondal Heritage and Classic Cars Museum. The car collection was owned by Maharaja Bhagwat Sinhji who ruled the region in early 19th century and was a visionary leader.

The Gondal Antique Car Museum in Gujarat, India is a must-see destination for car enthusiasts and history buffs alike. The museum houses a collection of over 50 vintage cars and motorcycles, all beautifully restored and maintained to their original condition.

One of the highlights of the museum is the collection of cars from the 1920s and 1930s, including a 1923 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and a 1931 Studebaker President. Visitors can also see a 1948 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith, a 1951 Chevrolet Styleline, and a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing.

The museum is located in the historic town of Gondal, which is known for its palaces and havelis. Visitors can take a tour of the town and see the beautiful architecture of the buildings, many of which have been converted into heritage hotels.The museum is open to the public every day except Monday and visitors can take a guided tour of the museum, which is conducted in English and Hindi.

Overall, Gondal Antique Car Museum is a unique and interesting destination that offers a glimpse into the history of transportation and a chance to see some truly beautiful and rare vehicles. It’s definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in cars and their history.

The Maharajah of Gondal had his own vintage and classic Car collection displayed at the heritage Orchard Palace Hotel at Gondal and the museum manager Mr. Bhavesh escorted me to photograph and carefully took me for an ambling walk through the antique cars, each parked in a private garage. The circumambulation of the garage allows tourists to appreciate nearly forty antique, classic and racing cars. Lunch over, we walked across the lawn and watched one garage door. There was a gorgeous, bright orange 1930 Delage designed by Maurice Gaultier andfounded in 1905 by Louis Delage is part of the collection.

A 1947 top-of-the-line Frazer (Kaiser-Buick convertible) and Studebaker are also seen. A1935 Packard, Ford convertible and Rolls Royce besides 1930 Daimler rub shoulders with one another in adjacent private garages.The most unusual “car” from 1907 was made in the United Kingdom and called “New Engine”. Rather than a “car”, it resembled a railroad or trolley car. This car not only could run on a street but also on train tracks! The Gondal Antique Car Museum in Gujarat, India is a must-see destination for car enthusiasts and history buffs alike. The museum houses a collection of over 50 vintage and classic cars, all beautifully restored and maintained to their original condition.One 1923 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and a 1948 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith, a 1951 Chevrolet Styleline, and a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing can also be seen.

The museum is located in the historic town of Gondal, which is known for its palaces and havelis. Visitors can take a tour of the town and see  beautiful architecture of the buildings, many of which have been converted into heritage hotels.day except Mondays.

Overall, Gondal Antique Car Museum is a unique and interesting destination that offers a glimpse into the history of transportation and a chance to see some truly beautiful and rare vehicles. It’s definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in cars and their history.

How to get there?

Gondal is located 40 km. from Rajkot. And 60 km. from Junagadh making it a convenient base to visit this historic city by bus.

By Train:

Gondal Railway Station is located about 42km from Rajkot Railway Station.

By Air:

Gondal is about 41km from Rajkot Airport.

Museum Ticket:

Ticket price is Rs 120 per person plus Rs 280 for photos and video recording per cameraA few cars are behind glass windows so it isnotpossible to click photos of some if the antique  cars.You need to pay extra to go to other palaces.

Where to stay?

Many budget hotels ranging from Rs. 500/- to Rs. 1000/- dot Gondal. Several temple guest houses offer free accommodation for pilgrims. The Circuit House is an option for Government employees.

However, Bhubaneshwari Residency and Tulja Residency  at Gondal are the  accommodation of choice  for European tourists who would like to stay in the town . A family of four can rent twin sharing rooms with hot water showers and vegetarian food  for 50 Euro per night. Advance booking is recommended during festivals or weekends.

Where to eat?

Several restaurants offering Indian vegetarian cuisine are located around Diu. Several make-shift stalls selling idlis, dosas, khaman and dhoklas are also found here. Dhabas serving Gujarati and Kathiawari vegetarian fare are found both at Gondal  and all along the highway from Ahmedabad to Gondal.

Murli Menon, is a travel writer, stress management consultant and author  based at Ahmedabad, India. He is the author of “ZeNLP-Learning through stories” published by The Written Word Publications,”ZeNLP-the power to succeed” published by Sage publications and “ZeNLP-the power to relax” by New Dawn Press. He can be reached at ceo@tips4ceos.com