At first glance, many might mistake this property, the Pataudi Palace, as a grand hotel. Although the property was previously leased to a hotel chain, it is now the home of the famous Bollywood celebrity couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan. Situated in Pataudi, Haryana, the Pataudi Palace is Saif Ali Khan’s ancestral home. It costs around 100 million USD and has 150 bedrooms, so it is no surprise that many are curious about the details of this property. This article will share ten facts about the famous Saif Ali Khan House.
History | Saif Ali Khan House
The Pataudi Palace was designed in 1900 by Architects Robert Tor Russel from Britain and Karl Moltz Von Heinz from Austria. The 8th Nawab of Pataudi, Iftikhar Ali Khan, requested the mansion, also known as ‘Ibrahim Kothi’, to be built in the style of colonial mansions of Imperial Delhi. The property has since been passed down to his son, Mansoor Ali Khan, and his grandson Saif Ali Khan. Due to a lack of time to maintain such a huge property after the passing of Mansoor Ali Khan, the palace was leased to the Neemrana Hotel Group from 2005 to 2014. After Saif Ali Khan repossessed the mansion, Darshini Shah, one of India’s most influential interior designers, was given the responsibility of refurbishing the massive family home from a resort to a family home.
Size
The Pataudi Palace in Haryana has an astonishing number of rooms, with 150 total, including seven bedrooms and seven dressing rooms. Apart from the standard rooms in typical properties, the mansion has multiple recreational rooms like billiard rooms, playrooms, and a library. The property spreads over 10 acres of land with huge lawns that serve as outdoor yoga spaces and horse-riding venues, as seen on the Khans’ social media!
Architecture | Saif Ali Khan House
Designed by the then-famous British architect Robert Tor Russel, the architectural style of the palace was a fusion of European and Indo-Islamic Architectural styles, which gave rise to the Indo-Saracenic style. It features a few bulbous domes with plenty of arches but also incorporates ordered columns and symmetry in design which is a tribute to classical architecture.
Bedrooms
The property has seven huge bedrooms that include a massive bed and a spacious sitting lounge area around a cosy fireplace. Each room is decorated with intricate drapes and carpets of different styles, blessing each room with a distinct colour theme and personality. Some rooms are even big enough to accommodate two large beds!
Circulation Space | Saif Ali Khan House
With 150 rooms in the property, long corridors are guaranteed for circulation space. The arched internal corridors of the Pataudi Palace are wide enough to erect shelves and decorations on both sides. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and artwork adorns the walls. The colour theme of the wooden furniture resonates with the beige marble floors. External corridors merging with a balcony are filled with comfortable couches and seats facing widespread lawns. Double staircases made of stone add to the grandeur of this mansion. Marble checkered floors are also a frequent highlight in the interiors.
Recreational Rooms
Multipurpose rooms are no doubt included in this 150-room palace. Saif Ali Khan’s love for billiards is demonstrated by the seven rooms reserved for the sport, each room decorated with checkered floors and old photos framed on the wall. An indoor playroom for the couple’s beloved daughter, Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi, filled with her favourite toys, occupies one of the multipurpose rooms. A library was also included in the palace, housing a variety of books on wooden bookshelves.
The Dining Hall
Being one of the rooms where families congregate, the dining hall of the Pataudi Palace has been luxuriously designed. Large windows, which allow for sufficient natural lighting and framed paintings act as a grand backdrop behind the massive dining table that can serve 22 people. The chandelier and wooden furniture bring a classy touch to the space.
Lounge | Saif Ali Khan House
The semi-outdoor lounge exudes a great sense of spaciousness. With delicate ornamentation and harem windows, the architectural language of this space shows great tribute to the Indo-Saracenic style. The contrast between the plain white architecture and brightly toned furniture creates a juxtaposition between dated architecture and contemporary fittings.
Outdoor Spaces
Sheltered pavilions filled with colourful blooming flowers connect interior and exterior spaces. Its traditional columns and layout created boundaries for an integrated courtyard. Furniture spans these spaces, giving visitors a place to sit, ponder and admire the gorgeous view.
The Lawns | Saif Ali Khan House
Trees and shrubbery acted as landscaping and paved the outline of entry paths that direct visitors through the large piece of land. The massive lawns surrounding the house provide an ideal venue space for numerous events. The Khans have been utilising this space well from private family time to large family gatherings to parties.
