Digvir Nivas Palace is located in the Indian state of Gujarat. More specifically, this Nivas Palace is situated in Vansda in the district of Surat. Vansda is known to be a municipality area. Digvir Nivas can also be said to be located along the banks of the River Kaveri in Vansda. Globally, this palace can be pinpointed at coordinates 20 degrees 45 minutes 46 seconds north and 73 degrees 21 minutes 27 seconds east. It occupies an area of about 557 square kilometers.

History of Digvir Nivas Palace
Digvir Nivas Palace was built in the earliest decade of 20th century, more specifically, in the year 1781. Maharaja Virsinhji is credited with the establishment of Digvir Nivas Palace. Future rulers got this palace renovated. The building was also provided with newer additions to ultimately emerge in its present shape.

Architectural Design of Digvir Nivas Palace
Digvir Nivas Palace is a fine representation of aristocratic architecture and splendor with remarkable designs and intricate work. The setting of the palace is reminiscent of British castle designs and French chateaux. Its gate has been decorated using plaster. Chhatris are evident on either side of the gate. They are octagonal in shape. The gate is considered to be a remarkable feature of the palace lending elegance to the entire palace.

The palace is considered to be a low profile building having a linear fashion. In most parts of the building, masonry is done with ashlar stone. The facades of the palace are characterized by carved balustrades, brackets, arches, pediments and columns. The rooms of the palace are provided with curved overhangs for curtains along with columns for protection. These rooms have been adorned with stained and colored glasses, which will add a unique effect to the rooms. The palace is also provided with verandahs, which will be evident to the visitors as semicircular or octagonal shaped. All the gateways of the palace itself are decorated using white plaster. The roof of the palace is steep mansard.

Apart from the palace building, there is a gymkhana or His royal gymnasium within the palace compound. This gymnasium can remind one of the European style of architecture. The gymkhana will also remind one of English cricket pavilions. The gymkhana has been constructed using Mangalore tiles to bedeck its interior. It has sloping roofs along with wooden trusses.

Visiting Information
The nearest airport to Surat is in Bhavnagar. Bhavnagar is connected by many domestic airlines to Ahmedabad and the neighboring cities in Rajasthan and Mumbai. Surat is located in the Mumbai–Delhi-Ahmedabad broad gauge line. The nearest airport to Vansda is in Vadodara. This airport is located at a distance of about 297 km. Another airport close (111 KM) to Vansda is known to be Gandhinagar Airport. The nearest railway station to Vansda is in Bilmora through broad gauge and Unai is the station through narrow gauge line. Sidhapur railway station is located at a distance of about 18 km. Some of the other railway stations connecting Vansda are Kevdi Road, Kalv Amba and Vyara. Vansda is reachable on road from Ahmedabad, Surat and Valsad. The nearest road from the railway station is Unai Vansada Road. Roads leading to Vansda are motorable by buses, both private buses and the ones operated and managed by the state transport corporation and taxis. Vyara, Netrang Town, Ghoda Peer Mohalla are the cities close to Digvir Niwas Palace.

Related Articles:
Indian Regional Monuments
Monuments of Gujarat
Monuments of Maharashtra
Monuments of Tamil Nadu
Monuments of Rajasthan
Monuments Of Bihar