Advertisement |
The estate, which Rao named the "Progress Building" includes parking for 500, a conference center that holds up to 600, lush gardens, modern amenities and bulletproof bathrooms -- a fact that drew considerable derision on social media.
The Bangalor Mirror reported 30 activists were arrested after staging a protest outside the palace Thursday.
Rao held a series of traditional Hindu rituals to bless the palace. The structure was built in accordance with vaastu traditions, a portion of Hinduism analogous to the Chinese concept of feng shui, where the layout of a building and a room are believed to affect its occupants' fortunes.
Political opponents criticized Rao for the lavish expenditure of public money at a time when many Indians, farmers in particular, are struggling to survive.