Sandur Shivavilas Palace

Shivavilas Palace is the royal residence of the former princely state of Sandur, located in Sandur town in Karnataka's Vijayanagara district. Built in the 1930s in a blend of European and Indian architectural styles, it serves as the home of the Ghorpade royal family. Set amid landscaped gardens with views of the surrounding Sandur hills and valleys, the palace is noted for its heritage architecture, period interiors and royal collections, and functions partly as a heritage property.

Visitors can expect a well-maintained heritage palace set within landscaped gardens surrounded by the Sandur hills. The exterior shows a mix of European and Indian design elements, with arched verandahs, tiled roofs and manicured lawns. Interiors, when accessible with prior permission, display period furniture, photographs, artefacts and memorabilia of the Ghorpade family. The palace is a private residence and not an open public museum, so access is limited to guided visits by prior appointment.

Sandur was a princely state ruled by the Ghorpade dynasty of Maratha origin. Shivavilas Palace was constructed in the 1930s as the new royal residence, replacing the older Kush Mahal in Sandur town. It has remained the seat of the Sandur royal family and reflects the late colonial period palace architecture adopted by princely states.

The palace represents the heritage and continuity of the Sandur royal family and is an example of princely architecture in the Ballari-Vijayanagara region. It is associated with local cultural traditions and hospitality, and is maintained as a heritage property showcasing the lifestyle and history of the former Sandur state.