- How to Get There
- EME Temple
- Kirti Mandir
- Laxmi Vilas Palace
- Sayaji Bagh
- Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum
Vadodara: The City of Culture
Vadodara
Vadodara: The City of Culture
The people of Gujarat call Vadodara, Sanskari Nagari which means ‘the cultured city’. It is easy to see why such a name would be bestowed upon the place once you enter Vadodara. Numerous interesting sights fill up the city of Vaodara, earlier called Baroda. You will find treasures left behind by Mother Nature and incredible place created by men in equal measure here. History runs through its streets where once Mughals rode followed by the proud warriors of the Maratha clan. The city of Vadodara, however, does not live in the past. It has given modernity a warm welcome and embraced it heartily.
How to Get There
By Air :
Vadodara airport has daily and weekly connections to Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad. The airport is 6km from the city
By Rail :
Vadodara lies on the main broad gauge railway lines between Mumbai-Ahmedabad and Mumbai-Delhi, so there are several trains to choose from including the two superfast Shatabdi Express trains to Ahmedabad and Mumbai and the Rajdhani Express to Delhi.
By Road :
Vadodara is very well connected by road to various parts of India. Vadodara is connected to Ahmedabad, Surat and Bhavnagar by regular roadways buses and deluxe air-conditioned coaches. Distance from from places;Ahmedabad:122 km,Surat:149 km
EME Temple
The EME Temple is a very unique temple. This temple is actually run by the Indian Army. Also called Dakshinamurty Temple, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The fascinating temple is unique in the way it was conceptualized and designed. The geodesic structure is incredible and covered with sheets of aluminum. Over all, it is a rare sight indeed.
Kirti Mandir
The Kirti Mandir is glorious sight indeed. Inside the temple, you will find an even more amazing sight. The shikhara of the temple is adorned by the sun, the moon, the earth and the undivided map of India. This incredible vision has been built into the shikhara with bronze creating a stunning effect indeed. The temple is actually a cenotaph. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III conceived this magnificent structure in order to honor the glory of his ancestors of the Gaekwad dynasty which once ruled a major portion of Gujarat from their capital, Vadodara. The temple also contains five incredible paintings by the legendary artist Raja Ravi Verma. The Kirti Mandir also houses a cluster of shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Laxmi Vilas Palace
The magnificent palace is still the home of the royal family of Vadodara. No expense had been spared in the construction of this Indo-Saracenic structure. It is, in fact, one of the most impressive palaces in Gujarat to have been built in the era of the Raj. The incredible palace contains elaborately decorated interiors. Exquisite mosaics and stunning chandeliers decorate rooms filled with beautiful paintings. The huge gardens that surround this extravagant palace even has a golf course.
Sayaji Bagh
The lush gardens of the Sayaji Bagh contain the Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery. The museum is home to a diverse collection of artifacts, most of which was brought together by Sayajirao III. Carvings and statues from various regions of Asia are located inside along with an Egyptian room. Delicate Mughal miniatures and a good gallery of European paintings make up the rest of the collection.
Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum
The opulent Laxmi Vilas Palace houses the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum. Originally conceived as a school for children of the royal household, the place has now become a wonderland of a diverse collection. An incredible variety of artworks are housed here most of which was gathered by Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III during his many trips abroad. There are also many paintings by the great Indian artist, Raja Ravi Verma, who served under the patronage of the Maharaja.
