Sawantwadi Palace

Sawantwadi Palace is an 18th-century heritage palace located in Sawantwadi, Maharashtra, built by Khem Sawant III between 1755 and 1803. It serves as the ancestral home of the Sawant Bhonsle dynasty and features a unique blend of English arches and native Konkan workmanship using red laterite stone. Part of the palace functions as a museum displaying royal artifacts, Ganjifa art, and traditional lacquerware. The complex also operates as a boutique art hotel while remaining a significant cultural landmark in the Sindhudurg district.

Visitors can explore the palace museum which houses royal artifacts, old photographs, traditional furniture, and displays of Ganjifa hand-painted cards. The central Façade Square features an immaculate lawn surrounded by historic rooms where court officials once resided. Guests may observe local artisans demonstrating traditional crafts like Ganjifa painting and lacquerware in the royal darbar hall. The architecture showcases red laterite stone walls merged with English arches set within extensive landscaped gardens. Guided or self-paced tours allow viewing of the picture gallery and royal living spaces.

The palace was constructed during the reign of Khem Sawant III (1755–1803) and represents the seat of the Sawant Bhonsle dynasty whose kingdom was founded in 1627 by Khem Sawant I. Originally established at Narendra Hill, the capital was later moved to Sundarwadi (now Sawantwadi). The structure served as the administrative and residential center for the princely state's rulers and ministers throughout the Maratha period.

Sawantwadi is recognized as the epicenter of traditional hand-based art forms including Ganjifa hand-painted playing cards and lacquerware. The palace actively preserves these crafts through workshops and artisan demonstrations. It remains the living residence of the current royal family who continue to promote regional arts and culinary heritage. The site embodies the cultural identity of the Konkan region's artistic traditions.