Over 110 years ago, Baroda witnessed the introduction of polo, a game that became a cherished part of its cultural landscape. This tradition began when Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III observed the sport during a visit to Jodhpur and subsequently introduced it to Baroda. On his return, he initiated the game in the city, bringing in a polo expert to train…
Sports
During the Gaekwad reign, Baroda emerged as a major sports hub, akin to the Olympics. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III was renowned for championing Indian and local sports. Sportsmen from across India and abroad flocked to Baroda to participate in over 150 sports, including athletics, kabaddi, long jump, hockey, wrestling, malkhambh, bodybuilding, and kho-kho. This sporting extravaganza was dubbed the ‘Royal…
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…
Today, the site of what was once Aggad, the grand battle arena, is now occupied by the Gaurav Housing Society behind the Bhaddar/Bhadra Kacheri. Historians believe that this battle arena has been a significant part of the Bhadra locality for nearly 700 years. Dating back to the 15th century, during the rule of Sultan Muhammad Begda, who was a patron…