Nestled within the expansive gardens of the Lukshmi Vilas Palace compound stands the tomb of Alam Sayed, also revered as “Ghode ka Pir” (the saint of horses). Alam Sayed, a 15th-century Sufi saint, was an adviser to Sultan Muzaffar Shah II of Gujarat. Legend and Offerings: Local legend holds that Alam Sayed’s horse was buried nearby, beneath a tree adorned…
Vadodara-Baroda
While walking through certain parts of the old city, one may come across strange yet regal-looking poles topped with arrows. These poles are actually the vent shafts of an elaborate underground drainage system. As part of his visionary schemes, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III commissioned a well-planned drainage system in 1894. Thus, a meticulously designed drainage network was established, featuring vent…
The post office currently standing in the Raopura area was built in the early 1930s and has a long history of correspondence between the Britishers and the Gaekwads. The earliest known postal service available in Baroda before 1863 was through the Camp PO, located inside the Cantonment area. Until 1863, there was no other post office; the city only had…
Situated in the heart of the city, Polo Ground is a vast open space used by the residents during festivals. Originally, there was a large lake called Bhesana or Bhesaniya Talao at this site. Between 1910 and 1912, the lake was filled with soil to create Polo Ground, under the orders of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. The Bhesana Talav was…
Situated in one of the corners of the old city, Bhaddar also known as Bhadra Kacheri is located in the area near Pani Gate, Vadodara. Now just a ghost of a building, this was the first known residence of the Gaekwads. Some trace the existence of this building, to the end of the 17th century, while others trace it further back…
Situated directly across from the Record Tower Building, the Old Kothi (also known as Juni Kothi) stands as a testament to the administrative foresight of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Commissioned in 1876, this significant building was designed by Major Charles Mant and originally served as a comprehensive administrative center, housing the secretariat, record office, military and police offices, as well…
Heading from Raopura, there is a Big Red Building which sometimes put you in thought that What it is. Its the Kothi Building which is only Building in city built in Scottish Style. Earlier here Baroda State ran its secretariat. This building or so called monument to late Maharaja’s closeness with Britain’s Queen Victoria, was most important building in era…
Built in 1863, Dilaram Bungalow served as the residence of Diwan Manibhai Mehta. Currently housing the Ram-Krishna Mission Memorial, the bungalow was gifted to the Mission due to its past association with Swami Vivekananda. For a while, the bungalow was allocated to government officers and forest officers to stay. It was only in 2005 that the then Chief Minister Narendra…
The Gaekwar’s Baroda State Railway (GBSR) holds a remarkable place in Indian railway history as the first narrow-gauge railway line in the country. Established under the princely state of Baroda, it represents the pioneering efforts of a native ruler in the realm of railway transportation. Railways in Baroda During the reign of Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad II (1856-1870), the first rail…
Nestled within the clubhouse of the railway colony at Pratapnagar, the Pratapnagar Railway Museum stands at the end of the Railway Heritage Park. Inaugurated on January 27, 1997, this museum offers a captivating glimpse into the rich history of railways in Baroda. Attractions: Heritage Gallery: This gallery showcases an array of antiques from the Gaekwar’s Baroda State Railway (GBSR) era, including…