Situated on the banks of the river Vishwamitri, the beautiful city of Baroda was earlier called Chandravati, after its ruler King Chandan. Later on, its name changed to Vadapadraka, literally meaning a village amidst the banyan trees. And from that name, came the city’s current name Vadodara or Baroda.
The most popular tourist spot of Baroda is the Sayaji Bagh, built in 1879 A.D. by Sayajirao, the Third. Sprawling over 113 acres, it also includes an excellent zoo, the Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery, the Museum of Health and Hygiene and the Sardar Patel Planetarium. A major attraction for children is the 3.5 kms joy ride through the park on the toy train.
There are plenty of places to look around in Baroda, like the Nazarbaug Palace, the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, the Vadodara museum and art gallery, the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum and the Makarpura Palace.
The Nazarbaug Palace is built in old classical style; the palace was used on ceremonial occasions by the Gaekwads and today the royal family heirlooms are on display. The Maharaj Fateh Singh Museum, located in the southern part of the city, is an important tourist spot and it houses the royal collection of European artists and Far Eastern Art and contemporary Indian works. The Laxmi Vilas Palace is the Royal Family s residence built by Maharaja Sayajirao in 1890. Its ornate Darbar Hall has an Italian mosaic floor and walls with mosaic decorations and it houses a remarkable collection of old armoury and sculptures in bronze, marble & terracotta.
For those interested in wildlife, must check out the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Bharuch district. It stretches over an area of 608sq. kms and is home to leopards, sloth bears, sambar, wild dogs, hyena, barking deer and a variety of birds. Another important landmark is the Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad University, established in 1949. With roughly 25000 students on its rolls, many of its departments are internationally renowned and the campus has many architecturally interesting buildings.
As far as religious spots are concerned, the EME Temple is unique in concept and design. It is a geodesic structure covered with aluminum sheets and is run entirely by the army authorities. Then there is the Kirti Mandir, situated at the end of Vishwamitri Bridge, near to the famous statue of Maharaja Fatehsinhrao Gaikwad, who was the last ruler of the Vadodara State. The name of the temple means Hall of Fame and 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 .
The city of Vadodra offers plenty of comfortable and budget accommodation. Most of the low budget hotels are located on the western part of the city across the Vishvamitra River. One can find mid range and top range hotels, most of which are near the railway station. The WelcomeGroup hotel is the most luxurious hotel in the city and for deals on hotels check out.
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