Located in the Dandia Bazaar area, the Bhaskar Vitthal Wada is known for its wooden pillars, huge entrances & ornate brackets. It was built by the then Deewan of Baroda State – Bhau Bhaskar Vitthal Khasgiwale, during the reign of Govind Rao Gaekwad (1739-1800). The Wada is, therefore named after him. Bhau Bhaskar Vitthal was the officer of the State,…
Maharaja Damaji Rao Gaekwad, also known as Damaji II, was the second son and successor of Maharaja Pilaji Rao Gaekwad. Damajirao came to power in 1732, after the assassination of his father Pilajirao at Dakor, by the allies of Abhay Singh (Mughal officer of Ahmadabad). Revenge : The first thing Damajirao did after coming to power was to launch a…
Located near Padra Taluka, Ranu village is famous for its Tulja Mataji Temple which is considered to be 700 years old. Lacs of people visit here during the Navratri festival to seek blessings. Finding the idol: Mahant Kavindragiri, the caretaker of temple says that 700 years ago Brahmshree Vishwambhar Giriji Maharaj came to Ranu village to worshipping Mataji & to serve…
Ustad Maula Bakhsh (1833-1896) were born in Bhiwani (Haryana) & came to Baroda on the invitation of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. On 26 February, 1886 a Music College (now Faculty of Performing Arts, MSU) was established where Ustad Maula Bux were conferred as the first Principal. Ustad Maula Baksh were also known as Chole, was considered to be one of the finest singers…
Any Indian will agree with the fact that the old India has always shown them tons of examples of religious tolerance and harmony. The story of the association of the Parsis with the Maratha Gaekwads is of the same kind. Pran jaye par Vachan na jaye: A person may be allowed to lose his life but the credibility of a promise…
Just like Baroda had its Army, it also had it’s own Navy in 1795’s. At the time Maharaja Pilajirao were appointed as General of revenue collection by Peshvas. To secure the coastline from foreign invaders & to boost the trade, Maratha fleet – armed vessels were stationed at Billimora, located near Surat, where the Gaekwad’s had Bunder Billimora Suba Armor,…
Baroda State had its own army (and Navy) & was called Baroda State Royal Army. In olden times, it was one of the most modern & capable army force in India. The Army : It was Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad (1856 to 1870A.D.), who created and organized a regular force of infantry, cavalry and artillery and engaged the services of Europeans…
Opened in 1929, the Shivaji Chitra Bhavan overlooking the Music College was the first cinema house with a cinemascope screen to be established in Baroda. The theatre was known as the Chitra Bhavan because in the olden days the movies played were without sounds. The career of a cinema house : During the 1969 riots, the people damaged the theatre….
Imagine walking on a road shaded by huge trees with rays of warm sunlight filtering through the thick green foliage and the air filled with earthy fragrances. The picture that comes to the mind will be that of the Indira Avenue. Now commonly known as the Jail Road, the older version of this road was less wide and planted with…
Also popularly known as Yahudi Kabristan, the Israel Kabristan (graveyard), this 140+ years old historical site lies at the mouth of what technically used to be the Nizampura village. The patch of land now known as the Israeli Kabristan was gifted to the Jewish community of Baroda in 1875, by the then Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. There is even a ‘Khat’…