Woodville Palace

Woodville Palace is a heritage hotel and former royal summer residence located on Raj Bhawan Road in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Originally built in 1866 as the home of British Army Commanders-in-Chief, the present Art Deco structure was constructed in 1938 by Raja Rana Sir Bhagat Chand of Jubbal. Set within four acres of cedar and pine forest, it features preserved royal artifacts, period interiors, and has served as a filming location for numerous Bollywood films.

Visitors can explore a historic 1938 palace set in four acres of private forest, featuring Art Deco interiors, century-old Persian carpets, and royal family artifacts. The property includes five dining venues open to non-guests, such as the Tiger Lounge and Hollywood Bar, which display vintage photographs and memorabilia. Guests can walk through manicured lawns, view original Murano glass fittings, and experience the ambiance of a pre-independence royal residence near Mall Road.

The estate was first purchased in 1866 by General Sir William Rose Mansfield, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, and served as the summer residence for successive Commanders-in-Chief until 1882. In 1926, Maharaja Sir Bhagvat Singh of Gondal acquired it and gifted it to his daughter Rani Leila Ba of Jubbal in 1930. The current palace was rebuilt in 1938 by her husband Raja Rana Sir Bhagat Chand and remained the royal residence until 1977 when it was converted into a heritage hotel.

The palace preserves significant Indo-British colonial history through its architecture, original Murano glass light fittings, and an extensive collection of autographed photographs featuring Queen Victoria, the Sultan of Johore, and King Umberto II of Italy. It also houses a notable collection of stamps and coins, serving as a living museum of the Simla Hill States' royal heritage and colonial social history.