Nestled near Sayaji Baug, approximately 1.5 kilometers from the Railway Station, the Dak Bungalow served as a temporary accommodation for travelers in the early 1900s. The rooms were simply furnished with plain cots, tables, and chairs, providing essential comfort for weary visitors. An on-duty “mess-man” was always present to cater to the needs of guests and assist with the use…
Located on the premises of Sir Sayajirao General Hospital (SSG Hospital) was a bungalow built in the 1880s for the resident doctor of the hospital. The bungalow exemplified British Colonial architecture and was situated just behind the Memorial of Yuvaraj Fatehsinhrao Gaekwad. In its heyday, it was surrounded by large trees and even had its own small garden. Occupied by…
Baroda State had different flags during distinct periods under the reign of the Gaekwads. Between 1730 – 1874 : Baroda State had a “Bhagwa”, i.e. the saffron colored flag common for the Marathas emerging from the Maratha empire of Poone (now Pune). During 1874 – 1936 : Queen Victoria granted to use flag of Princely Standard from 1875 till 1936.This flag…
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…
The Race Course, located behind Vadodara Railway Station on the Alkapuri side within a 1 km radius, was a prominent circular area in the past. It housed one of Western India’s few race courses, owned by the Maharaja of Baroda. Spanning approximately 2.4 kilometers in circumference, the ground hosted races and sports events during the 1900s, organized by State Military…
Hidden behind tall walls in the Karelibaug area of the city lies the Mental Hospital, originally known as the Lunatic Asylum, which opened on June 28th, 1898. Before its establishment, dangerous mentally ill individuals were confined and treated in the Central Jail under the Magistrate’s orders. Initially planned for just 28 patients, the facility expanded as the demand for accommodation…
When Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III was adopted by Maharani Jamnabai Saheb in 1875, many of his relatives moved to Baroda. Among them was Baburao Gaekwad, Sayajirao III’s real uncle, who settled in the city and built a grand mansion known as Vitthal Niwas. A Grand Mansion Constructed in the 1890s, Vitthal Niwas is situated just across from the Jumma Masjid in…
The Gaekwads of Baroda have always been a step ahead in various fields, and this was evident in their establishment of the first and only Aakashwani broadcasting station in Gujarat. The foundation stone for the Baroda Broadcasting Station was laid by Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad in May 1939; however, the station began operations only in January 1947 due to delays caused…
Pandit Gajanan Ambade, born in 1914 in Baroda, was a distinguished artist renowned for his mastery of the Jal-Tarang, a traditional Indian percussion instrument. Trained by his elder brother, Shri Narayanrao Madhavrao Ambade, Gajanan Ambade excelled in this unique art form from a young age, earning numerous prizes for his exceptional skills. From 1930 to 1933, he served as a…
Before its integration into the Indian Union, Baroda, as an independent princely state, had its own emblem known as the Baroda State Coat of Arms, which held significant importance for the Gaekwad Dynasty. This emblem was officially finalized and approved by the College of Heralds in 1877. The Emblem :Throughout the rule of the Gaekwad dynasty, each successive ruler had…