Vadodara – Cultural City Of Gujarat
Vadodara, formerly known as Baroda, the cultural capital of Gujarat, is the third largest city of Gujarat. It is situated on the Viswamitri River and the administrative headquarters of Vadodara district. The city is a mixture of many eras, which is why it attracts both domestic and International tourists.
Pavagadh Hill, graced with a combination of Hindu and Jain shrines, towers over Champaner, the 15th c. pre-Mughal Islamic fort. Together they represent the diversity of religion influences that have pervaded Gujarat.
The city is known for the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, the residence of Baroda State’s Maratha royal family, the Gaekwads. It is also home of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, the largest university in Gujarat.
Vadodara is an important industrial, educational and cultural hub of western India. The city has some major IT industries as well as some chemical industry.
Nazarbaug Palace, Makarpura Palace, Pratap Vilas Palace are some heritage palaces of Vadodara which is must watch. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III has built Kirti Mandir, one of the best attractions of Vadodara. The sun, the moon and the earth in bronze with the undivided map of India adorn the shikhara of Kirti Mandir, which was built in 1936.
Fatehsingh museum is another place to view several Raja Ravi Verma originals. The royal family of Baroda has a notable collection of works. If you are an art lover, keep aside a day for the museum and the palace.
You can watch the famous “Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club”, one of the best golf clubs of India. The EME temple is quite serene. It has been built by the military and one can enjoy a pleasant hour in its premises. Pavagadh Kalika Mandir is another worth watch of Vadodara, where you can enjoy a Ropeway ride.
What to Buy: Camel leather and related arts of pure gold and stone, on camel leather and hide vessels are the things you can buy from here. The best place to buy handcrafts is Nava Bajar area. Travel to Sankheda to see the making of lovely lacquer coated furniture.
How to Reach: You can reach here from Mumbai by road, which takes around 6 hours. Use Gozocabs to make your journey more comfortable . You can reach here by train as well.
