The ‘White House of the sky’ mansion. Picture: Instagram/@sriharikaranth
A mansion situated atop a skyscraper in the Indian city of Bengaluru has garnered attention for its distinctive design.
Atop a skyscraper stands a replica of the White House, yet its future remains shrouded in mystery.
It’s owned by Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, and it’s one of the most bizarre homes in the world.
The businessman constructed the $30.8 million replica of the White House on the roof of a 33-storey apartment complex above the streets of Bengaluru, India.
Vijay Mallya, once known as the ‘King of Good Times‘, spared no expense in designing this sky-high palace.
Inspired by the US President’s famous home, he created his version, albeit much higher up and with better views.
The ‘White House of the sky’ mansion. Picture: Instagram/@sriharikaranth
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The mansion spans roughly 3716 sqm, complete with a rooftop helipad, a swanky infinity pool, lush gardens, and luxury features that scream a billionaire lifestyle.
The builder, Irfan Razack, chairman of Prestige Estates Projects, previously stated that the cantilevered design was a test, but his team completed it according to his client’s vision.
“It was a challenge to construct the mansion on a huge cantilever at that height, but we have ensured we built it exactly the way it was conceived. It’s a complex structure, and the finishing work is going on,” he said.
“We will finish the project as per contract and hand it over.”
Indian fugitive Vijay Mallya is the subject of an extradition order from the UK to face crimes in India.
Construction of the ‘White House in the Sky’ began in the early 2010s, topping off the Kingfisher Towers, which is named after Mallya’s now-defunct airline and beer brand.
However, the White House replica project was never finished.
In 2016, Mallya fled to the UK – while the mansion was under construction – dodging a mountain of legal trouble connected to the demise of his company, Kingfisher Airlines, in 2012.
The ‘White House of the sky’ mansion. Picture: Instagram/@sriharikaranth
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Work on the mansion paused when Mallya left India, and no one has since stepped up to claim it or complete the job.
Since Mallya’s departure, work on the mansion has ceased, and no one has claimed responsibility for its completion.
And despite losing an appeal in April 2025, which makes his return to India more probable, it remains unlikely that he will reside in his unfinished residence.
It’s become less of a house and more of a real estate myth. It’s one of the most expensive ‘what-ifs’ in modern architecture.
It continues to loom over Bengaluru, empty and untouched, awaiting an owner who may never return.
The ‘White House of the sky’ mansion. Picture: Instagram/@sriharikaranth
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Despite its jaw-dropping grandeur and ambitious execution, the ‘White Mansion in the Sky’ is not the most costly or astonishing property in India.
That title belongs to Antilia, a 27-storey house – a tower for one family – in Mumbai.
Antilia is the home of the billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani – the wealthiest person in Asia – and his family. It was built between 2006 and 2010 at a cost of around $A3.08 billion and is equipped with helipads, a staff of 600, and a 50-seat cinema.
It is considered the most expensive residence in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Rarely have the interiors of Antilia been photographed and published, so the dwelling is essentially a mystery.
English (US) · 