Baroda Hotels

The Circuit House of Baroda is conveniently located near the Railway Station, just a three-minute walk away, ensuring ease for visitors.

Known as the State Guest House, it was commissioned during the reign of Maharaja Ganpatrao Gaekwad in the 1840s. These guest houses were operated by the State and were exclusively intended to accommodate State Guests. Later, during the reign of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the guest houses were transformed into Baroda Hotels with the primary goal of promoting tourism.

By the 1890s, visitors to the State had two options: the Dak Bungalow in the Fatehgunj cantonment or the Baroda Hotels.

The entire complex comprises four building blocks: the main building, two additional blocks, and a native-style bungalow. The main building is a one-storeyed structure featuring two bedrooms and a drawing room. The two other blocks each contain three bedrooms. All residential areas were well-furnished, and visitors seeking a traditional living experience were accommodated in the native-style bungalow.

These bungalows are now known as the Circuit House and its surrounding Officer’s Bungalow.

Guests at the house were welcomed with alcoholic beverages and non-vegetarian meals, though there was a strict policy prohibiting visitors from bringing their own alcohol.

Below is a rare list of various types of alcohol with prices that were once featured on the menu of Baroda Hotel:
– 1923 Vintage @ Rs 14
– White Wine @ Rs 8
– Johnny Walker White Horse @ Rs 11
– Johnny Walker Black Label @ Rs 14
– Ginger Wine @ Rs 5
– Brandy @ Rs 12 (Prices for the bottles)

These beverages were served either by the bottle or in pegs, as requested by the customer.

The buildings currently functioning as the Circuit House (a one-storeyed building), Valmiki Bungalow (the haveli on the left side of the Circuit House campus), and the Officers Club Haveli were all part of the Baroda Hotels at one time.

*The Circuit House serves as a guest house exclusively for government employees, available in almost every city or state, where they can stay alone or with family by prior booking.