Aurobindo Ashram (Arvind Ashram or Auro Nivas) is an ashram is located at Dandia Bazaar is first ever ashram to become so popular in south areas of Gujarat. Aurobindo Ashram served as the residence of Aurobindo Ghose during his stay in Baroda for ~13 years (1894 – 1906) as private secretary to Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda. During this…
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III not only spearheaded educational and social reforms but also played a pivotal role in the economic development of Baroda State. Among his notable economic enterprises, the establishment of a railroad and the founding of the Bank of Baroda in 1908 stand out prominently. Under Sayajirao III’s reign, the economic systems underwent significant reorganization. The Bank of…
The Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum housed within the compound of the Lukshmi Vilas Palace, Baroda was established in 1961. It houses a large number of works of art belonging to the royal family. The building earlier used to house the school for the children of the royal family. Now, the museum contains works of art collected by Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad…
Situated in the midst of noisy and colorful bustling markets, the Lehripura Darwaja, is the most ornamented gate out of the four gates of the old city. Built in 1558, it served as the gateway to the old city and is situated in the immediate vicinity of the Nyay Mandir. It was the part of the western ramparts of the…
Champaner Gate (Darwaja), serves as the Northern gateway to the old city of Baroda and leads one in and out of the tightly knit fabric and the colorful markets of the old city area. It is one of the four entry gates to the walled city of Baroda, called Kila-e-Daulatabad and was built by Khalil Khan along with the now…
Gendi Gate (Darwaja), serves as the Southern gateway to the old city of Baroda. It is one of the four entry gates to the walled city of Baroda, called Kila-e-Daulatabad and was built by Khalil Khan along with the now extinct fort wall. Rhinos (called Gendas in Gujarati) were kept near this gate, thus the name Gendi Gate, says the…
Pani Gate (Darwaja), serves as the eastern gateway to the old city of Vadodara (Baroda). It is one of the entry gates to the walled city of Baroda, called the Kila-e-Daulatabad and was built by Khalil Khan along with the now extinct fort walls during the 16th century. The name Panigate (literally translates to Water gate) is said to have…
What is royalty without some extravagance !!! This sentence perfectly seems to reflect the lifestyle of Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad of Baroda. In an incident reflecting this extravagance, the Maharaja gifted his children a working scaled down model of the Flying Scotsman. Set up in 1941 on the grounds of the Lukshmi Vilas Palace, this train used to ferry the royal…
Tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, is the mausoleum/Hazira of Qutb-ud-din Muhammad Khan, which is one of the few reminders of the Pre-Gaekwadi era of Baroda. The mausoleum or the Hazira as it is locally known, contains the graves of Qutb-Ud-Din Muhammad Khan who was the tutor of Salim/Jehangir, the son & successor of Akbar. It also…
Found among the illustrious art collection of Baroda, the “Scene de Corrida” is an ink drawing by the renowned painter Pablo Picasso. While the exact circumstances of how this remarkable piece was acquired remain unclear, its presence in the collection is well-documented. A catalog titled Vente de la Collection de la Maharani de Baroda chronicles this artwork during a time of financial…