Fast Facts
Location : Gujarat
Attractions : Sayaji Bagh, Baroda Museum and Picture
Gallery, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, Laxmi Niwas Palace, Naulakhi Well etc.
Best Time To Visit : October to March
Introducing Vadodara
Vadodara
also known as Baroda was the capital of the princely Gaekawad state in the
pre-independence era. While in the post-independence era Vadodara became
famous as a major hub of education and arts. Situated in the industrial
corridor of Gujarat, Vadodara is emerging as the commercial and industrial
capital of the state. Over the years a number of large and medium industrial
units have come up in surrounding areas and the city's main avenues are
lined up with a number of commercial complexes that rate among the best in
modern architecture. Today Vadodara is an industrial city with some
interesting museums and art galleries and a fine lush park. Popularly known
as the City of Palaces and Gardens, Vadodara is home to a number of
magnificent palaces and monuments which attract large number of tourists
every year.
How to Reach Vadodara
By Air : Vadodara airport is located 6 kms from the city
centre. Indian airlines, Jet Airways and many other airlines have flights
between Vadodara and Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Ahmedabad. From the airport you
can hire a taxi or auto-rickshaw to various parts of the town.
By Train : Vadodara has
its own railway station which is situated in downtown Sayaji Gunj. Express
and superfast trains connect Vadodara with Delhi, Mumbai and other cities of
India. Auto-rickshaws and taxis are available at the station.
By Road : Excellent Highways and other roads connect
Vadodara with other cities of Gujarat and neighbouring states. Buses of
State Transport Corporation and private operators run to from Vadodara to
Ahmedabad, Surat, Gandhinagar and cities of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and
Rajasthan. The Central bus station is close to the railway station,
auto-rickshaws will take you to any part of the city.
Local Tranport : Local modes of transport are private
taxis and auto-rickshaws.
Places Where You Can Stay
Most of the Vadodara's hotels are designed by keeping in mind the business
travellers. Here you will find several mid-range hotels and deluxe hotels as
well. In Vadodara most of the hotels are grouped in the Sayaji Gunj area
just south of the railway station. Some of the famous Vadodara hotels are
mentioned below :
Deluxe Hotels : Welcomgroup Vadodara (R.C. Dutt Road)
Standard Hotels : Hotel Express (R.C. Dutt Road), Surya
Palace (Sayaji Gunj), Hotel Revival (Sayaji Garden), The Hotel Airport
(Harni Road, Opp Airport), Hotel Yuvraj (Near Bus Stand), Hotel Aditi
(Sayaji Gunj), Hotel Ambassador (Sayaji Gunj), Hotel Rama Inn (Sayaji Gunj),
Hotel Express Alkapuri (Alkapuri) etc.
Tourist Attractions in Vadodara
Sayaji Bagh : Sayaji Bagh, the large lush green park is
home to Vadodara's chief attractions. The main entrance to the park is on
Tilak road. Main attractions of Sayaji Bagh include Baroda Museum and
Picture Gallery, Planetarium (35 min shows daily except Thursday), a small
zoo and a Health Museum.
Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery : Situated within the
Sayaji Bagh, the museum has a good collection of art and textiles from world
over, Gujarati archaeological remains, Mughal miniatures, India sculptures
and ancient manuscripts, Egyptian antiquities and some excellent works of
European masters. Among the finest exhibits are carved doors and lintels
taken from Gujarat's havelis (mansions) and some fifth-century Jain bronzes
excavated from the region. In the picture gallery you will see fine British
and European works ranging from the 17th century to 19th centuries. Other
exhibits include Poussin's Christ and Mary Magdalene, a Rubens portrait and
a painting by Johann Zoffanct of David Garrick as Macbeth.
Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum
: Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum is situated in the southern part of the
city. The museum's royal art collection includes European works by Raphael,
Titian and Murillo and exhibits of Graeco-Roman, Chinese and Japanese art
and Indian exhibits as well. The museum is open 10.30 am to 5 . 30 pm, close
on Mondays.
Laxmi Vilas Palace : Just north of the Maharaja Fateh
Singh Museum is the Laxmi Vilas Palace. It has a good collection of armour
and sculptures but is not open to the public. and now converted into a
heritage hotel.
Naulakhi Well : Naulakhi well, a fine baoli or step well
is 50 mts north of the palace. It is considered among the finest step wells
of the state of Gujarat.
Tourist Attractions Around Vadodara
Dabhoi : Dabhoi is 29 kms south-east of Vadodara and known
for its 13th century Rajpur Fort. An excellent example of Hindu military
architecture the fort has four magnificent gateways and it houses a number
of interesting structures.
Champaner : Champaner is 45 kms north-east of Vadodara.
The historic town was the political capital of Gujarat until the death of
Bahadur Shah Zafar in 1536. Today the town has a strange and time-warped
atmosphere, the huge city walls with inscribed gateway still stand. Here you
will see a number of houses, beautiful mosques and Muslim funerary monuments
and new Jain Dharamshalas as well. Champaner's famous biggest mosque, Jama
Masjid lies in the east of the walls. When you will visit Jama Masjid, you
will be surely amazed by seeing its towering minarets and huge prayer halls
dissected by almost two hundred pillars. The central dome of the mosque is
three times the height of the others and it shelters an octagonal shaft
trimmed with richly carved balconies. Jama Masjid also has a zenana or
women's prayer section in the north-west corner behind the perforated stone
walls.
Pawagadh : A fortified hill, Pawagadh lies 47 kms
north-east of Vadodara. Pawagadh hill rises 820 mts above the plains
overlooking the almost forgotten Muslim city of Champaner. Take a jeep from
Champaner, pass the old walls of the Solanki fort and reach to the summit
where a number of Jain temples lie below a Hindu temple dedicated to Mataji,
with a shrine of the Muslim saint Sadan Shan on its roof.
Dakor : Situated at a distance of 50 km from Vadodara,
Dakor is popular for its Temple of Ranchodrai. The town is a sacred place
for the followers of Lord Krishna and is major centre for the Sharad Purnima
festival in October - November.
Sankheda : Sankheda is a a crafts village known for its
unique wood carvings and lacquered furniture.
Ahmedabad :
Gujarat's commercial centre Ahmedabad is 100 kms north of Vadodara.
Ahmedabad is known for its rich past and its connection with Father of
nation Mahatma Gandhi. The city offers a unique style of architecture, Indo
- Saracenic style of architecture, which is a blend of Hindu and Islamic
styles. You will find this architectural style in mosques and temples of the
city.
Anand : Located on the way to Ahmedabad from Vadodara,
Anand is the native town of the While Revoltion. Anand is also famous for
its Amul range of dairy products.
Bharuch : Bharuch is situated on the main railway line
between Vadodara and the city of Surat. Monuments of Bharuch is major
tourist attraction, River Narmada that flows through the town is another
attraction.
Shopping in Vadodara
As Vadodara is the city of artists and painters, so the shopping in the
city will be a pleasant experience for art lovers. Besides artifacts, silver
jewellery is another highlight of shopping in Vadodara. Raopura, Teen
Darwaza and Mandvi offer a huge range of oxidized silver. You can check out
the local Khadi Bhandar centre for fabric, handicrafts and readymade
handspun cotton clothes.
