Tucked in a small strip of garden across from the Faculty of Arts at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU) is a clock tower known as the Shri Sayaji Tower. Erected during 1920-21, it was built at a cost of Rs. 30,470, with the clock alone accounting for about Rs. 3,000. The Tower : The Shri Sayaji Tower stands…
The Faculty of Technology and Engineering – MSU actually started it’s journey from the Senapati Bhavan as the “Kala Bhavan Technical Institute” in the year 1890. It was only in the year 1949, that it was established as the Faculty of Technology and Engineering and assimilated in the Maharaja Sayajirao University. A palatial home for the Institute : After being…
Indumati Mahal is a palace located just opposite Lukshmi Vilas Palace. Built in the 1880s, it was renamed in honor of Sayajirao’s granddaughter, Princess Indumati Raje, who was also the sister of Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad. Historically, the palace housed photographs of the royal family and a collection of historic books. It also stored ceremonial cannons used to salute Sayajirao III…
The Maharani Chimnabai Tower, commonly known as Raopura Tower, is one of the major landmarks of the city. Erected in 1896, the funds for the tower were contributed by the citizens of Baroda in memory of Maharani Chimnabai I (1864-1885), the first wife of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. It was inaugurated by the last Nawab of Baroda, Mir Kamaluddin Hussainkhan….
Located in the heart of the city, the now-demolished Nazarbaug Palace once stood proudly across Mandvi, built by Maharaja Malharrao Gaekwad in 1871. Considered the oldest palace in Baroda, it later served as a treasury and remained a favored venue for grand royal functions. The palace grounds also housed the enchanting Shish Mahal, a palace of glass. A Splendid Structure…
Initially built to house a vegetable market, the Nyay Mandir was commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in memory of his beloved wife, Maharani Chimnabai I. Upon completion, the structure transitioned from a market to a Town Hall and later transformed into an imperial court, inaugurated on November 30, 1896, by the then Viceroy, Lord Elgin. The Maharaja’s deep respect…
Nestled near the Khanderao Market, the Shri Sayaji Vihar Club stands as a proud testament to the architectural and cultural vision of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Originally established as the Officers’ Club for sports activities, this historic building embodies the grandeur and elegance of its time. The Building The design of the Shri Sayaji Vihar Club aligns with the architectural…
Commissioned in 1936, the Maharaja Pratapsinh Coronation Gymkhana stands as a testament to Baroda’s rich history and the defiant spirit of its rulers. During the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III’s rule, his grandson and successor, Yuvraj Pratapsinhrao, boldly declared his intention to establish a Polo Club. This announcement was not merely a gesture of celebration but also…
Housing the only Railway University of India, the Pratap Vilas Palace was commissioned for the crown prince of Baroda in 1908. Now known as ‘The National Academy of Indian Railways’ or ‘Bharatiya Rail Rashtriya Akademy’ (in Hindi), earlier it was known as the Railway Staff College. Railway Academy : After independence, the Bombay Province had taken over these premises on lease…
Baroda, now Vadodara, is home to an impressive collection of stepwells, known locally as ‘vavs’. Once numbering over 100, these ancient water reservoirs served both practical and cultural purposes. Today, only a few of these vavs are accessible, and even fewer are well-maintained. Here’s a look at some of the notable stepwells still standing in and around the city. Navlakhi…