Baroda

Baroda (Vadodara) is the capital city of the erstwhile Gaekwad rulers. It is an important cultural center of India, as it is known for its art galleries and museums. Baroda has a number of palaces and well-laid parks that attract the tourist.

LOCATION
Baroda is located in the eastern part of the state of Gujarat, in the western region of India. Vishvamitra River flows through the city of Baroda. It is 100 km south of Ahmedabad and 392 km north of Mumbai. The weather in Baroda is tropical and hot. Though it located near the Arabian Sea, summers (April-June) in Baroda can be too hot and winters (November-February) are cool. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September.

BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit Baroda is in winters, between October and February.

HISTORY
The earliest record of Baroda city is found in a land grant dating back to AD 812. In the grant, Baroda is referred to as Vadapadraka. It was also known as Chandanavati, after a local Rajput ruler. The city underwent periodic renaming, from Varhavati, Vatpatraka, Baroda, and, in 1971, to Baroda. The history of Baroda can be divided into different periods. The Hindu period lasted from ancient times until 1297. The Muslim rulers of the Delhi sultanate ruled this region from 1297 to 1401. An independent Muslim kingdom was established here, which was known as the Gujarat Sultanate. The present city was established during this period, which spanned from 1401 to 1573. Baroda became the part of the mighty Mughal Empire when Akbar, the Mughal emperor, defeated the local Muslim ruler in 1573. The Mughal period lasted until 1734, when the Maratha period started under the Gaekwad family. From 1734 to 1947, it became the capital of the powerful Gaekwad rulers. In 1802, the British, under the banner of the East India Company, established a residency in Baroda to cement their relation with the Gaekwads. Later this residency was responsible for all erstwhile princely states of Gujarat and Kathiawad. In 1947, when India gained independence and all princely were abolished, it became a part of the state of Gujarat.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
Lakshmi Vilas Palace: Designed in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, the palace built by Maharaja Sayajirao in 1890 is till date the residence of the royal family. Its ornate Darbar Hall has an Italian mosaic floor and walls with mosaic decorations. The palace houses a remarkable collection of old armoury and sculptures in bronze, marble & terracotta.

Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery: Founded by the Gaekwads in 1894 AD, the museum has an impressive collection on art and archaeology, natural history, geology and ethnology. The adjoining art gallery has a great collection of old European masters: Veronese, Giordano, Zurbaran, some Flemish and Dutch School of paintings, Turner and Constable, a collection of Mughal miniatures and valuable palm-leaf manuscripts of Buddhist and Jain origin.

Kirti Mandir: Meaning 'Hall of Fame', it's a memorial for the Gaekwad rulers. Designed in the Hindu style, it is a magnificent stone building with domes, terraces, balconies and a central 'shikhara'. It is decorated with murals by the famous Indian artist, Nandlal Bose.

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

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

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

Pratap Vilas Palace at Lalbag: Built as the residence of the royal family, the Pratap Vilas is an extravagant and flambuoyant building built in the Indo-Saracenic style. The palace houses a remarkable collection of old armoury and sculptures in bronze, marble and terracotta.

Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad University: The erstwhile ruler of Baroda, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad built Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad University, also known as MSU, over a hundred years ago. The University is one of the bigger universities in Western India and the only one in Vadodara. The notable faculties here are the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Performing Arts.

Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the Bharuch district, the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary stretches over an area of 608sq. kms. It boasts of abundant plant and animal life. Here you can see leopards, sloth bears, sambar, wild dogs, hyena, barking deer and a variety of birds.

PLACES AROUND BARODA
The town of Champaner (Pavagarh) is 47 km northeast of Baroda. It is famous for Jama Masjid, which is one of the finest mosques to be found in the state of Gujarat. It also has a medieval fort near it.

The town of Dabohi is 29 km southeast of Baroda and is known for its 13th-century Hindu military architecture.

Dakor, 50 km from Baroda and half way to Ahmedabad, is famous for its Temple of Ranchodrai and is a sacred place for the followers of Lord Krishna.

Ahmedabad city is 100 km north of Baroda. Ahmedabad is known for its rich past and its association with Mahatma Gandhi. The city offers to the traveler a unique style of architecture, which is a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles (Indo-Saracenic style of architecture). It is famous for its mosques and baolis.

The town of Anand, on the way to Ahmedabad from Baroda, is famous for its Amul range of dairy products. Anand is the hometown of the white revolution in India and the modern plant is worth visiting.

Bharuch, which is located on the main railway line between Baroda and Surat city, is famous for its monuments and the River Narmada that flows through it.

SHOPPING
This is the city of artists and painters. There are regular art exhibitions held by the state's prestigious MS University's Fine Art College. If you like silver jewellery, then the shopping areas of Raopura, Teen Darwaza and Mandvi offers a good range of the oxidized silver. Also check out the local Khadi Bhandar centre for handicrafts, fabric and readymade hand spun cotton clothes. On the snacks front, pick up the famous spiced, puffed rice mix called bhusa. Both plastic and paper currencies are widely accepted.

FESTIVALS
All Indian festivals are celebrated with fervor. The festival of Shivratri, in honour of Lord Shiva, is celebrated by Hindus in February/March. Holi is celebrated every year in February-March. As in the rest of Gujarat, the nine day festival of Navratri is celebrated with much gaiety. It ends with Dussehra, in September/October followed twenty days later by Diwali, the festival of lights, observed in honour of Goddess Lakshmi.

HOW TO REACH
By Air: Baroda airport is 8 km northeast of the railway station and is linked with Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Pune.

By Rail: Baroda railway station is located on the northwestern part of the city. As Baroda is on the main Ahmedabad-Mumbai line a number of trains pass and stop at Baroda.