Vadodara Diary

Vadodara, literally means, the 'City of Banyan Trees.' This was once the capital of the princely state of the Gaekwads and is now known as the cultural capital of Gujarat. It is a graceful city of palaces, parks, temples and museums. Vadodara was also known as Vadodara and rises from the banks of River Vishwamitri. A pleasant, medium-sized city, it flaunts its palaces, temples, parks, lakes and monuments. Of special interest is the Pratap Vilas Palace which has a miniature railway model room, complete with all railway operations including signaling. The city's Fine Arts College is highly exceptional and attracts students from all over the world.

History of Vadodara
Historical and archaeological findings date this place back to the 9th century when it was a small town called Ankottaka (present Akota) located on the right bank of the river Vishvamitri. Being flood-prone, Vadapadraka became the administrative headquarters. Except for a short break when the Marathas captured power in 1732 from the Mughals, Vadodara continued to be in the hands of the Gaekwads from 1734 to 1949.The greatest period in the Maratha rule of Vadodara started with the accession of Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1875. It was an era of great progress and constructive achievement. Post-Independence Vadodara is synonymous with education and arts. The industrialization of Vadodara has attracted entrepreneurs not only from Vadodara but also from all over Gujarat and India

Attractions in Vadodara
Vadodara is known for its palaces, museums and parks. The Sayaji Bagh is a big well-laid park and an important tourist attraction. Within this park, one can see the Vadodara Museum and Art Gallery, which has a good collection of artifacts, Indian sculptures and ancient manuscripts, Egyptian antiquities, Mughal miniatures and some works of European masters. The Sayaji Bagh also has a planetarium and a small zoo within it. Maharaj Fateh Singh Museum, located in the southern part of the city, houses the royal collection of copies of European masters, Far Eastern Art and contemporary Indian works. The Laxmi Vilas Palace, north of the Maharaj Fateh Singh Museum, has a good collection of artifacts. The Naulakhi Well, a fine example of a step well, and the EME temple, a unique temple with an aluminum roof, are worth paying a visit.

Excursions around Vadodara
Excursions can be made from Vadodara to the town of Champaner (Pavagarh) is 47 km northeast of Vadodara, 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 Vadodara and is known for its 13th-century Hindu military architecture. Dakor, 50 km from Vadodara and halfway to Ahmedabad, is famous for its Temple of Ranchodrai and is a sacred place for the followers of Lord Krishna. Ahmedabad city, 100 km north of Vadodara is known for its rich past and its association with Mahatma Gandhi. Famous for its mosques and temples, the city offers to the traveler a unique style of architecture, which is a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles known as the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The town of Anand, on the way to Ahmedabad from Vadodara, is the hometown of the White Revolution and is famous for its Amul range of dairy products. Bharuch, which is located on the main railway line between Vadodara and Surat city, is famous for its monuments and the River Narmada that flows through it.