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India » Vadodara
 City Guide
 
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Anshuman Gaekwad might be the best known of the distinguished royals of Vadodara (earlier Baroda) but the city owes its fame and prosperity to another magnanimous member of his family. Maharaja Sayaji Rao Gaekwad, who made Baroda a Sanskari Nagari (cultured city) as the locals would have it?and why not? Sayaji Rao lived in the magnificent Laxmi Vilas Palace. Faiyaz Khan of the celebrated Agra Gharana sang for him. Raja Ravi Verma painted for his family. Seek and you will find his illustrious legacy preserved in the many museums and art galleries strewn all over the city.
Culture trip over, how can you not be seduced by the delectable flavours of the Gujju thali? ?Scrounge the main markets and the shabby roadside joints that pop up at sundown for your share of meetha and farsaan! Come Navratri and you can t resist yourself from shaking a leg as the whole city does a Garba on the streets. At the end of it, if you have a day or two in hand make a quick trip to Bharuch or near by Champaner, where Aamir Khan s Eleven batted it out with the firangs in the recent blockbuster Lagaan.
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Air:
Both IA and Jet fly daily from Mumbai while IA also flies daily from Delhi.
Airport: 6 km from the downtown Sayaji Ganj area
Rail:
Lying on the main Delhi-Mumbai route, Vadodara is very well connected with the rest of the country. Frequent express trains link Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Railway station: In downtown Sayaji, Ganj. Autorickshaws and taxis available at the station will drop you at the city centre.
Road:
Excellent highways link Vadodara with Ahmedabad (113 km), Surat (154 km), Bhavnagar (300 km), Indore (323 km), Nasik (335 km), Ujjain (378 km), Bhopal (509 km) and Pune (547 km). Apart from the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation buses, government services of neighbouring Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan also operate regular services to and from Vadodara. Make prior reservations on GSRTC buses if you are planning a long trip. Punjab Travels and Srinath Travels are some of the good private companies who operate luxury services to nearby destinations.
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Climate:
Summer temperatures vary from 44°C to 24°C and winters range from 11°C to 31°C. A moderate monsoon lasts from mid-June to mid-September.
When To Go:
Throughout the year but the cooler months of October to March are the best.
STD Code:
0265 |
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Laxmi Vilas Palace
This is the residence of the royal family that was built by Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1878 in the Indo-Saracenic style completed in 1890. The palace has an extensive collection of sculptures (bronze and marble) as well as some old armour pieces that are interesting. The Fateh Singh Rao Museum on the grounds is good for those interested in old paintings and other art objects. Save time for a visit to the nearby Naulakhi Well - a baoli (step-well).
Baroda Museum
Was built in 1894 and has an extensive art collection including several works by reputed British and other European artists. Other attractions are the Egyptian mummy, a skeleton of a blue whale, elegant Akota bronzes (5th century AD), Mughal miniatures and a gallery of Tibetan Art.
Nyaya Mandir
It is a splendid example of Byzantine architecture and is well worth a visit. Today it doubles as the Baroda District Court. This medieval structure is imposing both in proportion and style and makes for a great visit especially on weekends when the courts remain closed.
Aurobindo Society
Dedicated to Shri Aurobindo and contains memorabilia related to his life and work. There are halls for meditation that are open to the public. The library has an interesting collection and the sales emporium, which sells his books, is worth a visit.
Sayajibaug and Sardar Patel Planetarium
A park built by Sayajirao III in 1879, situated on the banks of the Vishwamitri. Spread over 113 acres, the attractions other than the greens are many - including a zoo, the Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery, the Museum of Health and Hygiene and the Sardar Patel Planetarium. Kids get a kick trying the toy train that traverses the park.
Nazarbaug Palace
The royal art collection is brimming with works of masters like Raphael, Titian and Murillo. Also displayed are pieces, which can be classified under modern western, Indian paintings, Greco-Roman exhibits, Chinese and Japanese art. The extensive collection of contemporary Indian art is noteworthy.
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Champaner (Pavagadh) (47 km)
Annexed in 1484 by Sultan Mahmud Begara, this mini-city was renamed Muhammadabad. Worth seeing is the Jama Masjid which is similar in design to the one in Ahmedabad and is one of the finest in Gujarat. The old fort at Pavagadh is adjacent to Champaner and is a riot during the chaitra (March/ April) month when the locals honour the goddess Mahakali.
Dabhoi (29 km)
The ancient walled town is a great example of 13th century Hindu architecture with strong military influences. Noted for the intricacies of design, the four gateways are worth checking out, especially the Hira Gate.
Dakor (94 km)
A Krishna oriented city set equidistant from Vadodara and Ahmedabad. Famed for the Temple of Ranchodrai, the city comes alive during Sharad Purnima (October/ November).
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You can get your supply of Kutch embroidery work and tie-n-dye. Textiles are another winner and come in vibrant hues that make great gifts. Pick up some mirror work wall hangings and so you can always have a bit of Gujarat in your living room! If you are interested you could buy some elegant Sankheda furniture. Before you leave the city buy some farsaan (phafra and chora phali) because the snacks back home will never be able to compare! Some of the popular haunts are.
· Gurjari - State emporia with all the typical handicrafts
· The Shoppe - Music
· Bodhi - Garments, crafts and lifestyle products
· Sayaji Bagh Area - Great place for gold and silver ornaments |
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