Sayaji Rao's statue

Vadodara (till recently known by its anglicised name, Baroda) is a city of beautiful gardens, magnificent palaces and many institutions of learning of international repute.

Vadodara has developed a thriving industrial and commercial centre in the last two decades, especially after the oil find in the early sixties. The oil refinery, fertilizer factory and petrochemical complex here have triggered the growth of engineering, chemical and other industries in and around the city. Embroidery with gold, silver and silk thread, gold and silver ornaments, engraving on ebony, sandalwood and other wood and lacquer work (which is made at world famous Sankheda) are the traditional handicrafts of the area.

Navratri at Vadodara (Baroda)

Baroda is a well-known centre of music and culture, and many streets have their own garba mandals, or garba groups. A bhavai performanceis held at Baroda's Ambaji temple, during Navratri. Many other places within Gujarat have their own local customs and celebrate Navratri intheir own special way.

Places to Visit

Nazarbagh Palace
Built in the old classical style, the palace was used on ceremonial occassions by the Gaekwads. It now houses the royal family heirlooms.

Kirti Mandir
The family vaults of the Gaekwad rules. It is decorated with murals by the famous Indian artists, Nandlal Bose.

Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum
This is the royal collection of art treasures of old masters like Raphael, Titian and Murillo as well as modern western and Indian painting, Graeco-Roman exhibits, Chinese and Japanese art and a large collection of contemporary Indian art.

Makara Palace
A beautiful palace designed in the Italinate style, the Makarpura is now used as a training school of the Indian Air Force.

Pratap Vilas Palace At Lalbagh
Built as the residence of the royal family, the Pratap Vilas is an extravagant and flambuoyant building in the Indo-Sarcenic style. The palace houses a remarkable collection of old armory and sculptures in bronze, marble and terra-cotta.

Vadodara Museum And Picture Gallery
Founded by the Gaekwad in 1894, it has impressive collections of Art and Archaeology, Natural History, Geology and Ethnology. There are miniature paintings and narrative paintings by different artists. The adjoining Art Gallery has a great collection of European old masters : Veronese, Giordano, Zurbaran, some Flemish and Dutch school paintings; Turner and Constable, a collection of Mughal miniatures, and valuable palm-leaf manuscripts of Buddhist and Jain origin.

Tambekarwada
It is famous for its wall paintings. .

How to get there ?

Air
Direct daily flight from Bombay.

Rail
From Ahmedabad, Bombay or Delhi.

Road
118 Km from Ahmedabad 420 km from Bombay and 1,039 km from Delhi via Jaipur and Udaipur. State Transport buses available from all parts of the State. For local transport, taxis, autorickshaws, tangas and city buses are available.