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Top Tourist Places to Visit in Vadodara 2022

Explore top tourist attractions in Vadodara, Indian city with Golden Shiva, Lavish Laxmi Vilas Palace & lovely cultural monuments

Vadodara also known as Baroda, is lovely and second largest city in state of Gujarat. Vadodara is full of various tourist places showcasing art and smart architectures from ancient times. The city is known for landmarks such as Laxmi Vilas Palace, Sayaji Baug, Ajwa Garden and many more tourist attraction / places within city. Explore our curated list of top travel places in Vadodara to pay a visit and enjoy the landmarks of cultural capital of Gujarat.

Sursagar Talav / Lake

Sursagar Talav (Lake) is situated in the very middle of today’s Vadodara city. Usually crowded in day time but this place will give you chills in the evenings.

Sursagar lake, once called ‘Chandan Talav’ when it was in shape of little pond built by Shri Sureshwar Desai. Then after it was maintained and decorated multiple times in history. Recent beautification of the lake has made this top amazing place for tourists. 

Sursagar lake is covered with multiple temples such as Hanuman Mandir, Shiva Mandir, MS University performing arts AKA Music college and also nearby to old Courts of Vadodara built by late Maharaja of Vadodara Sir Sayaji Rao Gaekwad.

Vadodara Municipality has installed a lovely and tall statue of lord Shiva in standing posture  which is 120ft tall and also working to add cover of gold on the statue. Newly renovated ghats and walkway makes it beautiful place to hand around or just to take a walk around it.

Many reasons make this place a must visit location while you’re touring Vadodara city.

Mandvi Gate

Mandvi Gate, is the north gate of the Royal Enclosure for Baroda State and its a is one of the major landmarks in Vadodara. It has history which take us back to the Mughal period. Mandvi means mandapa (Sanskrit word) meaning pillared hall. Mandvi is at the centre of the walled city where the roads leading to the 4 gates crosses. Built by Sultan Muzaffar (1511-26 AD) and renovated in 1736 AD by the Governor, Malharoa Maloji under the orders of Damaji Roa II. Later during 1856 AD, Ganpatrao Gaekwad added more storeys. Now it is a four-storied concrete structure with a clock fitted on the top. Most of the structure is intact including some of the jaalis. On special occasions like festivals and cultural events, the gate is illuminated with colourful lights.

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Laxmi Vilas Palace

Positioned amid extensive gardens, mango farmlands, and sprawling fields, the Lakshmi Vilas Palace is one of the most luxurious abodes ever constructed. Commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1880, it’s said to be four times the size of the Buckingham Palace. 

Completed around 1890, the majestic palace has been the residence of the Gaekwads, the rulers of the Princely State of Baroda, for more than a 100 years now. Within its vast compound, the Palace complex consists of several other institutes, such as the Baroda Golf Club, Motibaug Cricket Grounds and The Maharaja Fatehsinhrao Museum. So expansive are the palace grounds that they once housed a small zoo, and a little railway line to ferry the royal children around them.

A must visit place if you haven’t already. The view of palace from vast green lawn, astounding structure, luxurious interiors and glimpse of lavish lifestyle of Gaekwad family will definitely a worth visit in Vadodara.

Visitor must note that only some portion of palace is open for visitors and ticket charges includes free audio tour in English or Hindi. If you’re planning to visit the pride of Gaekwads official timings are from 10am to 4.30 PM except Mondays & public holidays.

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Makarpura Palace

Makarpura Palace was a royal palace of Gaekwads of the Baroda State, in present-day Vadodara, Gujarat, India. It was built by Maharaja Khende Rao in 1870, in the Italian style. It was used as summer residence and hunting resort by the Royal Family.

The point of the palace was especially named due to its propinquity to the vast deer reserves, for stalking. Maharaja Khanderao spent a lot of time stalking near the Dhaniavi area in Makarpura, popularly known as Shikarkhana. It’s said that Malharrao Gaekwad, Khanderao’s family who ruled Baroda from 1870 to 1875, destroyed a portion of this palace. Latterly in 1883, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III the espoused son of Khanderao repaired and made additions to it.

The palace now comes under Indian Air Force, who used it for numerous times as their office before eventually abandoning it. Over the times the vast auditoriums that formerly girdled the palace faded only leaving behind the cosmetic cradles. Indeed the palace itself has come a pile of debris, with stacks of its falling to the ground because of neglect and seediness. The palace is in critical need in conservation, which if not accepted snappily, the palace will end up like the Bhadra or the old Nazarbaug which has fully faded!!!

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Kirti Mandir

Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III was so powerful and affluent that he had an entire monument built to commemorate the cremation of his family members. This monument was called the Kirti Mandir.

Widely known as the Temple of Fame, this structure was constructed also to celebrate the fifty years of his mighty administration. One of the carvings on the cenotaph makes one reminisce about the good old days, where India was not divided into so many states and territories, due credit to the undivided map of India displayed on the central arch. The 33 m high central arch is also ornamented with the sun, the moon and the earth and the rooms behold the sculptures and photographs of the members of the Gaekwad family.

Kirti Mandir

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Nyaya Mandir

Constructed in 1896, the Nyaya Mandir or the Temple of Justice houses the District Court of Vadodara megacity in the state of Gujarat. This structure features Indo-Saracenic armature designed by the Madras mastermind Robert Fellowes Chisholm. Rudiments of Gothic, Renaissance and Mughal armature styles can be witnessed in the structure which is surely one of the must-have- visit sightseer lodestones in Vadodara.

Sayaji Gardens / Kamati Baug

Sayaji Baug or Sayaji Gardens, as the name suggests, is dedicated to Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III himself.

Spread across a land of 45 hectares, this garden is named after the great Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Considered to be one of the prominent sightseeing places in Vadodara. Take at least half a day to fully explore the 45 hectares of garden grounds, with 2 museums, a zoo, a planetarium, a flower clock, and an operational toy train, among other attractions, and then come back to the park whenever you need a respite from activities in the rest of the city. The planetarium shows you the universe in half an hour, at 4pm in Gujarati, 5pm in English, and 6pm in Hindi. Entry for Adults, Rs. 7, Children Rs. 5. After the show take a look at the astronomy park next door to see the astronomical instruments of ancient India.

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Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU)

The Maharaja Sayajirao University is a precious institution in the city of Vadodara, in Gujarat. The University has evolved from the Baroda College (1881) which was one of the oldest and most reputed centres of education in western India. It was latterly renamed after its patron Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the former ruler of Baroda State. The present Maharaja Sayaji Rao University has lived up to the name of its precursor and done justice to the great Gaekwad dynasty to whom it owes its reality. Piecemeal from being an educational institution, it’s also a heritage point.

The university is erected upon 275 acres of land and boasts of 14 faculties including trades, commerce, education and psychology, family and community lores, fine trades, journalism and communication, law, operation studies, drug, performing trades, wisdom, social work, technology and engineering, and drugstore. The Institution has come a eidolon in the field of education with 90 departments, 3 indigenous sodalities and several other centres which give education at varying situations starting from kindergarten to PhD. It’s also spreading its bodies towards further ultramodern subjects like fashion designing, feeding technology and hostel operation to keep pace with the times.

MSU 2

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Ajwa Nimeta Garden

Decked with green manicured meadows and adorned by towering palm trees, the Ajwa Nimeta Garden is the perfect destination to plan your tardy weekend at. The crowd- sculler here’s the 100- meter row of impeccably aligned musical fountains that mesmerise us with coordinated water shoots in the background of lively colours. This garden is enjoyed by grown-ups and kiddies likewise.

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EME Temple

The EME Temple or “Dakshinamurthy Temple” is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, built in 1966 and run by Indian Army authorities in the city of Vadodara, in the state of Gujarat, Western India. It is unique in its concept and design and its geodesic structure, covered with aluminium sheets, is well regarded by archaeologists. It was built by the Indian Army Corps of EME. Credit for the idea and unique concept of this temple goes to माधव आचवल , a famous marathi writer and architect. This temple is a major attraction for both tourist and devotees and is one of its kind in the world.

Eme Temple

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Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha is an association that was established in 1907 by Shastri Maharaj. The tabernacle is relatively popular amongst Hindu addicts and exhibits a spiritual and religious terrain. With followers from each across the country, the mandir is known for its carnivals and evening prayers and is among the stylish sightseer places in Vadodara.

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ISKCON Temple Baroda

You must have heard about ISKCON Tabernacles that are scattered each over India. Well, you’ll find one in Vadodara also which covers a whopping area due to its grand structure. While exploring the tabernacle, you’ll see that the inside of the tabernacle is adorned with traditional art. After visiting this tabernacle in Vadodara, you can delight some delicious, submissive food at the Govindas which serves cutlet- shellacking food.

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Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Located at Dandia Bazar, Aurobindo Ashram is one of the stylish places to visit in Vadodara. Being an ideal spot for contemplation, and spiritual mending, the Vihara features 23 apartments, a library, a study room, and a deals bazaar. Bones of Sri Aurobindo and all the rare books that have been written by or about him can also be plant then.

Qutbuddin Hazira Tomb

Constructed in the time 1586, Hazira Maqbara is one of the top sightseer places in Vadodara. The place houses the sepultures of Qutubbuddin Muhammad Khan and Naurang Khan, his son. The armature is made in the Mughal style with grand bends and platforms. You’ll find the clones of the graves inside the grave whereas the real bones lie in the underground chamber.

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Sevasi Vidyadhar Vav / Step Well

The geography of the Baroda megacity is dotted with several‘vavs’ (stepwell) and had further than 100 vavs at one point in time. Unfortunately, many of them are accessible and indeed smaller are in a well- maintained state. 

Positioned in the outskirts of the city, on the way to Sindhrot is the 500- timeold Sevasi Vav. Considered as the oldest and most beautiful vav of Sultan Mehmud Begada’s timeAccording to a Devnagari necrology on one of its ray, it was erected around 1496 (Vikram Samvat 1549). The necrology also states that it was erected to commemorate a spiritual leader, Vidyadhar, who failed beforehand and was deified in Sevasi vill.

The vav is erected with a combination of slipup masonry and a system of gravestone columns and goes seven situations below the ground. Just like any other vav, this bone is also acquainted in the east-west direction. It’s decorated with motifs of torans, flowers, bells and of creatures similar as mammoths and nags and catcalls. The intermediate situations of the vav have false‘jharokhas’on its walls inscribed with flowery patterns. The structure is penetrated through a gate-suchlike structure with a pate in the center. This gate is decorated with motifs of mammoths and barracuda in relief work on the right and left side independently. It’s said, youthful girls decked in gold were offered at Sevasi stepwell on full moon nights, for substance.

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