VanRaja- The Tigers of Madhya Pradesh

A stunningly beautiful museum, VanRaja-The Tigers of Madhya Pradesh is a taxidermy museum located in the premises of the Jai Vila Palace of HH Maharaja Scindia, and houses a series of exhibits from stuffed tigers to royal decorative accessories of the royal palace.

About the Museum

Housed in the majestic Jai Vilas Palace which is a fine specimen designed by Sir Michael Filose in 1874 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, the "VanRaja - The Tigers of Madhya Pradesh" is a taxidermy museum where taxidermied Tigers are kept at the display. Located within the city limits, the museum is named after Tigers, the most powerful animal of the jungle also known as Vanraja.

The building of the museum is a confluence of stunning architectural styles, the first storey being Tuscan, the second being Italian-Doric, and the third Corinthian. The whole estate is a beauty to behold, comprising the splendid HH Maharaja Museum, VanRaja museum, and the Jai Vilas Palace which are connected with a huge fountain in the center. The rooms in the VanRaja museum have marbled floors with thick carpets and are filled with bizarre items like cut-glass furniture, stuffed tigers, and a ladies-only swimming pool with a boat. Sounds thrilling right? The furniture and other decorative accessories illustrate the lifestyle of the royal Scindia family as well as a museum comprised of 35 rooms in the palace.

The VanRaja museum is one of the must-visit places in Lashkar, Gwalior to witness the art of taxidermy and the grandeur of regal life. Apart from the taxidermy tigers, the highlights of the museum consist of a massive chandelier with 250 bulbs which is deemed the largest chandelier in the world, a silver train that was used in the past for serving cigars and alcohol can be seen in the dining room, a plush carpet in the Durbar Hall which took 12 years to knit, and the glorious history and gallantry of Gwalior presented exquisitely through different articles. The visitors can explore the museum on their own or take assistance from the tour guide available outside. The palace also has a souvenir shop, a cafe, and a library for recreational activities.