5 Historical Places to Visit in Vadodara

by Manish Kumar Marketing Head

Also known as Baroda, Vadodara is one of the most popular cities located in the state of Gujarat. This city which is over 2,000 years old had been ruled by Pathans, Hindus, Marathas and Mughals. There are plenty of ancient places and both old markets and modern shopping malls which you can find even close to hotels near Vadodara railway station.

Here are five places you should visit when in Vadodara-

Champaner Park:
This magnificent archaeological park located in the heart of Champaner city is one of the best attractions in Vadodara. It comes under the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is situated amidst the beautiful hills of Pavagadh. This park reflects a perfect blend of the Hindu and Islamic architecture. It is believed that the chunk of Himalayas that Lord Hanuman carried to Lanka was from the Pavagadh Hills. So check out hotels at Vadodara and visit this park which has great historical importance as well.

Laxmi Vilas Palace:

Built by the great Maharaja Sayaji Rao III between 1878 and 1890, the Laxmi Vilas Palace is a fine representation of the Indo-Saracenic architecture. A palm courtyard and a beautiful fountain make the entrance of the palace mesmerizing. The interior consists of tiles, marbles and a variety of artworks. The hall has Italian mosaic floor and glass-windows which are beautifully stained and detailed with embellishments of mosaic.

Makarpura Palace:
Makarpura Palace originally built in 1870 for the Gaekwads as a summer palace. So the summers are a perfect time to visit this magnificient palace. This palace had some repairs and renovations after several years. The Makarpura Palace is inspired from the Italian architecture. Now it is run by the Indian force for their traning school. This palace was originally built in 1870 with the motive to serve as a summer palace for the Gaekwads. If you’re staying at one of the hotels at Vadodara do visit this palace.

Sayaji Gardens:
Sayaji Garden is the largest garden in Western India and is also known as Kamati Baug. This garden that spreads over 45 hectares was built by Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1879. The garden has a planetarium, a zoo and has two museums. If you’re visiting this garden with your children there is a toy train which they can enjoy. The zoo has a variety of animals which include hippopotamus, crocodile, lion and tiger. One of the gates of this park is close to Vadodara railway station so if you’re staying at one of the hotels near Vadodara railway station, you can easily visit this park.

Vadodara Museum:

The famous Vadodara Museum Museum and Picture Gallery was built in 1894 by the Gaekwads. Maharaja Sayajirao III travelled to many places and started having his collection of sculptures, miniatures, textiles and many other objects from Egypt, Nepal and India. Thus, this museum displays a variety of the personal collection of Maharaja Sayajirao III. If you admire architecture, a trip to this museum is a must.

So if you’re visiting Vadodara, these are a few places with rich history that you should visit. Stay at one of the hotels near Vadodara railway station to go around places in this city.