Shikarkhana at Dabka

There are many activities and sports that are associated with kings that really make them royal and set them apart from the general public, and Hunting is one of them. This was also the case with the Gaekwads, the erstwhile rulers of Baroda who kept many hunting reserves around the capital, out of which Dabka is one.

Situated near banks of Mahi river, is the little hunting lodge, now known as Camp Bungalow that is the reminder of the hunting grounds that once stood in the area. Back then, the area would have been covered with a dense forest making it a good hunting ground for the kings.

It is said that Maharaja Sayajirao II (1818-1847) used to come here after his birthday & used to hunt with his family.

The little lodge stands on a scenic higher ground which looks on to the curving river below. Although not much is known about the history of the building it can be safely said that it may have been built between the mid to late 1800s.

The structure is an elegant amalgamation of masonry and wooden elements in an unusually shaped plan. It has verandas encircling it with roof protruding out of the main building supported on wooden posts. These verandas may have made a lovely sit out space in the old days. The building still has a few vestiges of decorative elements left. An example of these are the curved brackets with wooden cutwork panels and the wavy eavesboards.

A fun fact about the place is that the 70ft long blue whale’s skeleton housed in the Baroda Museum was brought from Dabka. The blue whale had washed ashore at Dabka & died later and the skeletal remains of the same were brought to Baroda to be displayed at the Museum.

The building is currently unoccupied which has left it in a little state of disrepair, but with some restoration works it can brought to a pristine condition. Local people and cyclists already use this place to enjoy the scenic views and the structure only adds to the beauty of it.