Vadodara is a city of beautiful gardens, magnificent palaces and many institutions of learning. Formerly the capital of a princely state, Vadodara owes its development and prosperity to Sayajirao Gaikwad III and has today, developed as a thriving industrial and commercial centre.

Champaner and Pavagadh which is a world heritage site is a concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage properties cradled in an impressive landscape which includes prehistoric (chalcolithic) sites, a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16th century capital of the state of Gujarat.

Map of Vadodara (Click to Enlarge)

Places you can see in Vadodara

Laxmi Vilas Palace  
It is designed in the Indo sarcenic style and was built by Maharaja Saiyaji Rao-III started in 1878 and completed in 1890. It is the residence of the royal family. The palace contains collection of old armory as well as bronze & marble sculptures. Fateshsinh Rao Museum located in the palace ground, houses, royal collection of painting and other objects of arts.

Kirti Mandir  
Kirti Mandir or temple of fame is the cenotaph of the Gaekwads. It was built by Maharaja Sayaji Rao to perpetuate the glorious memory of his beloved ancestors. The sun, the moon and the earth in bronze with the undivided map of the India adorn. The sikhar of Kirti Mandir. Kirti Mandir was built in 1936 as a part of the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Maharaja Sayaji Rao Gaekwad-II.

Nazarbagh Palace   
Built in the old classic style, the palace was used on ceremonial occasions by the Gaekwads. It now houses the royal family heirlooms.

Makarpura Palace   
Makarpura Palace built by Maharaja Khende Rao in 1870 was designed in the Italian style. It was extended and renovated by Maharaja Sayaji Rao -III and is now the Air Force Station.

Pratap Vilas Palace   
Designed in Renaissance architecture it houses railway Staff College, the main training center of Indian Railways.

Hajira   
Built around 1586 the tomb of Qutubuddin (the army general of the great king Akbar) has beautiful windows carved in stone. There is an old step well in the large grounds surrounding it. It is one of the oldest Mughal monuments of the city. It was built in safari Persian style.

Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery  
Founded by the Gaekwads in 1894 A.D., the museum has an impressive collection on Art and Archaeology, Natural History, Geology and Ethnology. The adjoining art gallery has a great collection of old European Masters: Veronese, Giordano, Zurbaran, some Flemish and Dutch School paintings, Turner and Constable, a collection of Mughal miniatures and valuable palm-leaf manuscripts of Buddhist and Jain origin.

Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum  
This is the royal collection of art treasures of old masters like Raphael, Titian and Murillo as well as modern Western and Indian paintings, Greco-Roman exhibits, Chinese and Japanese art and a large collection of contemporary Indian art.

Khambhatt (Cambay)
An ancient sea port now silted up, famous for its agate industry.

Nimeta (13 Km)
On the way to Ajwa lake, Nimeta is a picnic spot. A water purification plant is operated here.

Ajwa Lake (Sayaji Sarovar) (21 Km)
The water reservoir for the city it is an ideal picnic spot with boating facilities.

Tuwa (27 Km)
Tuwa is known for its natural hot water springs, containing sulphur. Near the springs there is an ancient Shiva temple, built in the Orissi style.

Dabhoi Fort (30 Km)
It is famous for a beautifully carved gate called 'Hirabhago'. There is a Malika Temple in the fort with a profusion of fine carvings. The town is considered to be the birthplace of the Gujarat style of architecture.

Anand (35 Km)
Here one can see Asia's largest milk co-operative, the Amul Dairy. This milk co-operative produces around 10 lakh tonnes of milk everyday and 70% of the milk produced are sent to various cities. Milk products are produced in the most modern complex. It is the finest example of co-operative ventures in the country, which has put India on the world map as a major producer of milk & milk products, in addition to transforming the life of farmers in the region.

Halol (35 Km)
Halol was a suburb of Champaner, containing beautiful gardens during the Muslim regime. There is a dargah here, of Sikander Shah, a general of Mohammed Begara. Sikander Shah was murdered in the palace of Champaner by the Umrao Imad-Ub-Mulk in 1526 and his body was buried at Halol. Over his tomb, there is a huge beautiful stone structure which is partly broken today.

Malsar (45 Km)
Situated on the banks of the Narmada river. The sacred shrines of Mangaleshwar Mahadeo, and Angareshwar Mahadeo and a Satyanarayana temple are situated in the village. It is said that the Pandavas had stayed for some time in the nearby forest, where there are temples of Pandeshwar and Bhimeshwar Mahadeo.

Sankheda (47 Km)
Sankheda, named after the demon Sankhsen is a town with an old fort. Historical facts reveal that the fort at Sankheda was built by Sultan Ahmedshah-I in A.D.1419. It is also a religious centre famous for its Jwalamukhi Mata Temple and Dharmananda Mahadev Temple. There are two mosques in the town.
Today Sankheda enjoys world wide reputation for its attractive lacquer furniture, which comes in bright shades of red, maroon and ochre and makes very good bedsteads, coffee tables, low chairs, swings, divans and a wide range of furniture, which look delicate but have an astonishingly long life.

Chandod (50 Km)
A place of great sanctity, due to the confluence of the Narmada, Osrang and the mythological Saraswati. The Kapileshwar Mahadev Temple here is believed to be of great antiquity.

Champaner and Pavagadh (47/ 49 Km)
Champaner lies at the foot of the Pavagadh Fort. The ruins of its mosques and palaces, reflected in the lake are some of the most picturesque in India. The hill of Pavagadh rises from Champaner in three stages. This is a World heritage Site  Currently, 38 out of the 120 monuments at the site are under the protection of the ASI.A concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage properties cradles in an impressive landscape, which includes prehistoric sites, a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital, and remains of the 16th century capital of the state of Gujarat. The site also includes, among other vestiges, fortifications, palaces, religious buildings, residential precincts and water installations, ranging from the 8th to the 14th centuries. The

Pavagadh
Pavagadh is a small but tall mountain about 46 kilometers away from Vadodara. The history of the religious and historic mountain is linked with Patai Raval. It is said that the king Vanaraj Chavada established Champaner at the, foot of Pavagadh in fond memory of his wise minister Champa. The Patai Raval family ruled it and took care of the boundary. The folk tales say that the Mahakali joined the Garba ' (The traditional Gujarati group dance) assuming the form of a woman during the Navaratra festival. There is the Mahakali seat at the top of the hill. The last Patai Jaisinh saw the beautiful lady and threw nasty looks at her. The deity cursed him. As a result of that curse, the emperor of Gujarat, Muhammad Begda assaulted Pavagadh and won over the hill on the boundary. Kalikamata Temple atop the Pavagadh Hill is considered to be an important shrine, attracting large numbers of pilgrims throughout the year. The site is the only complete and unchanged Islamic pre-Mughal city.

Citadel of Mahmud Beghada (Champaner) 
Located in Champaner A perfect rectangle about three-quarters of a mile long and 280 yards broad, the citadel is enclosed by a wall of massive blocks of freestone, known as Mahmud Beghada's Wall. It is strengthened by bastions at regular intervals and beautified by small carved balconies in the best Islamic style.

Juma Masjid (Champaner)
Located in Champaner On account of its massive grandeur and perfect finish, the Juma Masjid is one of the grandest Islamic monuments in Western India.

Nagina Masjid (Champaner)
Located in Champaner Nagina mosque is also called the Jewel Mosque as it is built of pure white stone.

Bharuch (72 Km)
This very old town was mentioned in historical records nearly 2000 years ago. In the 17th century, English and Dutch factories were established here. A fort overlooks the wide Narmada River from its hilltop location and at its base is the Jami Masjid. There is also a temple of Bhrigurishi on the river banks from which the town derived its name Bhrigukachcha, later shortened to Bharuch.

Jambughoda Sanctuary (78 Km)
This sanctuary is famous for four-horned antelope, panthers and it is bird watchers' paradise; some rare birds can be seen very often in the lush environs.

Lasundara (85 Km)
It is known for its hot and cold springs with medicinal properties curing skin diseases.

Shuklatirth (88 Km)
The holy place of Shuklatirth, overlooking the river Narmada, is 16 Kms. from Bharuch.

Kabir Vad (90 Km)
Its unique attraction is a giant Banyan tree which covers an area of 3.7 acres. One can reach this island, by country craft.

Dakor (94 Km)
Dakor is a pilgrim place. The image of Lord Krishna in the Ranchodrai Temple here, said to be the original from Dwarka. Dakor holds a large fair on Sharad Purnima, the full night in October November.

Surpaneshwar (100 Km)
It is an important pilgrim place, on the banks of the river Narmada, with an ancient temple of Surpaneshwar mahadev. Every year a fair is held in the Krishnapaksha of Chaitra month from 11th to new moon day (March-April).
Ratan Mahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary (115 Km): The wildlife that can be seen in these sanctuaries includes the sloth bear, panther, chinkara, nilgai, wildboar, etc. The best season to visit is from November to March.

Dumkhal Sloth Bear Sanctuary (125 Km)
This sanctuary is famous for the sloth bear, panther, sambar, four-horned antelope, hyena as well as a large variety of birds. Best season for a visit is from December to March.

Essentials

Reaching  Vadodara

Air
Vadodara is connected by air with Mumbai and Delhi.

Rail
Vadodara is a railway station on the Western Railway broad gauge line, connected with important cities and towns.

Road
Vadodara is connected by motorable roads with Ahmedabad 118 Km,

Vadodara Climate:Winter 31°C - 11°C Summer 45°C - 24°C

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES
Tourist Corporation of Gujarat Ltd., Narmada Bhavan, C-Block, Indira Avenue, Vadodara - 390 001

Vododara STD Code: 0265