New Delhi, April 1 -- A glimpse through the coconut trees reveals the facade of Sawantwadi. Built by Khem Sawant III, a royal of the Sawant Bhonsle family during his reign from 1755 to 1803, the palace's colonial-style architecture makes use of red laterite, a regional building material.

The place, a tropical paradise two hours from Goa, lies in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg, known for its Konkani and Malvani culinary traditions, tropical climate and a thousand sacred groves. There are also two beaches within 30 km, Shiroda and Vengurla, along the Arabian Sea.

Though the palace's museum and Darbar Hall had drawn history buffs over the years, it is now a gourmet destination. This became possible when the 19th generation royal couple, Prince L...