Baroda
The city thrives in palaces, museums and parks. The Sayaji Bagh is a big well-laid park and an important tourist attraction. Within this park, you can see the Baroda Museum and Art Gallery. The Museum has a good collection of artefacts, which not only includes Indian sculptures and ancient manuscripts, but also houses a vast collection of Egyptian
antiquities, while the art gallery has Mughal miniatures and some works of European masters. The Sayaji Bagh also houses a planetarium and a small zoo within it.
Maharaj Fateh Singh Museum, located in the southern part of the city, is an important tourist spot. It houses the royal collection of copies of European masters. This museum also has a good collection of Far Eastern Art and contemporary Indian works. The Laxmi Vilas Palace, north of the Maharaj Fateh Singh Museum, has a fine collection of artefacts. As this museum is not generally open for public viewing, advance booking has to be made to visit it. The Naulakhi Well, a fine example of a step well or baoli, and the EME temple, a unique temple with an aluminium roof, are worth paying a visit.
In the Khanderao Market is situated the superb Tambekarwada Haveli (mansion), a graceful four-storey structure covered in murals. The city comes to life during the festival of Navratri celebrated to honour Goddess Amba. Street corners, city squares and temple courtyards spill over with gorgeously attired men and women dancing the musical, almost mesmerizing Garba and Dandiya Ras.
The dance derives from the love legend of Radha-Krishna and the Gopis (milkmaids). For these nine nights every girl is altered into a gopi in embroidered flowing skirts and mirrored blouse, and the boys into Krishna, the eternal yet elusive lover. Understandably the time when love blooms
Baroda is situated on the banks of the river Vishwamitri (whose name is derived from the great saint Rishi Vishwamitra). The city was once called Chandravati, after its ruler Raja Chandan, then Viravati, the abode of the brave, and then Vadpatra because of the abundance of banyan trees on the banks of the Vishwamitri. From Vadpatra it derived its present name Baroda or Vadodara.
Baroda has a rich historical background. The ardent historian can trace Baroda's history over 2000 years and more. However, the recent threads can be picked up when the Moghul rule over the city came to an end in 1732, when Pilaji brought the Maratha activities in Southern Gujarat to a head and captured it. Except for a short break, Baroda continued to be in the hands of the Gaekwads from 1734 to 1949.
The greatest period in the Maratha rule of Baroda started with the accession of Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1875. It was an era of great progress and constructive achievements in all fields.
Maharaja Sayajirao was one of the foremost administrators and reformers of his times. He initiated a series of bold socio-economic reforms. He attached great importance to economic development and started a number of model industries to encourage initiative, and then handed back the working industries to private enterprise. He started model textile and tile factories. It is as a result of his policy of industrial development that Baroda is today one of the most important centres for textile, chemical and oil industries today. He introduced a number of social reforms. In no department of administration has the far-sighted policy of this wise ruler been more conspicuous than in education, and in none have the results been more real and tangible. He boldly introduced compulsory primary education and a library movement (the first of its kind in India) to augment his adult education scheme.
It was he who visualised a general scheme of development in all branches of knowledge at different stages, with the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda at the apex. Modern Baroda owes its beauty, its educational institutions and its masterpieces of architecture to the insight and vision of this great ruler.
There is a saying that nothing grows under the banyan tree, but this is not true of Baroda. Having witnessed the rise and fall of the empires and kingdoms of the Hindus, Pathans, Moghuls and Marathas, it now occupies a unique position on the educational, cultural and industrial map of India. Yet, it has been fortunate enough to retain the beauty of its rich and varied past. and it is one of the few cities in India which is still influenced by the lost might of its ruling dynasties.
The earliest record of Baroda city is found in a land grant dating back to AD 812. In the grant, Baroda is referred to as Vadapadraka. It was also known as Chandanavati, after a local Rajput ruler.
The history of Baroda is divided into different periods. The Hindu period lasted from ancient times until 1297. The Muslim rulers of the Delhi sultanate ruled this region from 1297 to 1401. An independent Muslim kingdom was established here, which was known as the Gujarat Sultanate. The present city was established during this period, which spanned from 1401 to 1573.
Baroda became the part of the mighty Mughal Empire when Akbar, the Mughal emperor, defeated the local Muslim ruler in 1573. The Mughal period lasted until 1734, when the Maratha period started under the Gaekwads and from 1734 to 1947, it was their capital.
In 1802, the British, under the banner of the East India Company, established a residency in Baroda to cement their relation with the Gaekwads. Later this residency was responsible for all the erstwhile princely states of Gujarat and Kathiawad. In 1947, when India gained independence and the princely states were abolished, it became a part of the state of Gujarat.
Baroda has plenty to offer to lovers of history and culture. Its many palaces and art galleries are a treat and one can browse through the city's historic relics and beautiful artworks for days on end. One of the main attractions in Baroda is also the Sayaji Bagh, an extensive park which also houses a small zoo. The Baroda Museum 1 Gallery displays art and textiles from all over the world as well as archeological remains and Mughal miniatures. Another museum, the Maharaj Fateh Singh Museum is located in the southern part of the city and includes European works by Titian, Raphael and Murillo. The Laxmi Vilas Palace in the south of town is one of Baroda's most extravagant palaces now turned into a heritage hotel. Excursions from Baroda can be made to nearby villages like Champaner and Dabohi. Ahmedabad, with its rich historical past and spectacular mosques and temples lies 100 km north of Baroda.
The outstanding trait about Baroda's cultural life is that it is remarkably cosmopolitan. and while there are hundreds of different identities, everyone participates in all activities. So, the culture of the city is not just history or heritage; it is dynamic, ever-changing and alive.
More or less every Indian community has an active identity in this city. and this happy co-existence is reflected in the social and cultural life of the people. In all of this, the sprawling and cosmopolitan MS University campus and the large number of local, national and foreign industries act as a catalysing and unifying force.
The average Barodian is open to the world and overflowing with hospitality, as the history and growth of the city aptly testify.
Baroda's cultural enthusiasm, you should visit this city during any festive occasion Navratri, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Id, New Year, Uttarayan, Holi, campus fun fairs, etc. On any given day, some cultural activity or the other is going on in the city. Classical music and dance have their patrons, and so does the modern stage and pop culture. The culture and the traditions are both alive and being forever experimented with.
Can you expect anything less from a city which is blessed by its geography and its history, which is the home of a vibrant internationally renowned university and which is a key component of India's industrial base? The people of Baroda have not only hung on to the cultural heritage, they embellish it as they exuberantly go on with their daily lives.
The official language of Gujarat is Gujarati, but Hindi, Marathi and English are also widely used in Baroda. State and local government offices in the city use both Gujarati and English, Central government offices use English and Hindi and industrial and commercial organisations use English. The medium of instruction at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU) is English. The medium of instruction in the city's schools varies Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi, English, etc.
The cultural life is of course in many languages. and on the streets, in the markets and at other public places you can hear ‘AKHA INDIA' (the whole of India).
Population 1961: 298,398 1971: 467,487 1981: 734,473 1991: 1,031,346 (males 53%; females 47%) 1995: 1,200,000 (approx.) 1998: 1,400,000 (approx.) 2001: 1,500,000 (projected) 2011: 2,100,000 (projected) Number of households: 213,540 Population density: 9,527 per sq km Motorised vehicles: 300,000 Election Wards: 26 Seats (Corporators): 78 Population per ward: 31,122.50 Seats reserved for women: 26 Total voters (as on 17-1-97): 809,185
Legend has it that the late Gaekwad of Baroda once used a scooter to speed from his bedroom to the dining room of the extensive Laxmi Vilas Palace, where the palace kitchen itself lay two miles away from the dining area. The incident sums up the landscape of Baroda, evoking images of sprawling palaces and royal grandeur. Although the days of caparisoned elephants are now a thing of the distant past, and have been replaced with industrial waste, pollution and traffic, the city retains its historical charm and an affinity for the arts. Modern day Baroda is a rush of noisy traffic and crowded multiplexes, although the city's esteemed Maharaja Sayajirao University attempts to strike a balance by producing the country's finest artists and art historians. Baroda's museums and art galleries hide some national treasures and its open spaces are privy to much celebration, song and dance during its most vibrant festival - Navratri. However, the city's exuberance has been clouded by the recent communal riots that ripped Gujarat's fabric. Once the centre of revolutionary ideology and new artistic movements, Baroda was reduced to a town of communal hatred and is slowly getting back to its feet again.
Maharaj Fateh Singh Museum, located in the southern part of the city, is an important tourist spot. It houses the royal collection of copies of European masters. This museum also has a good collection of Far Eastern Art and contemporary Indian works. The Laxmi Vilas Palace, north of the Maharaj Fateh Singh Museum, has a fine collection of artefacts. As this museum is not generally open for public viewing, advance booking has to be made to visit it. The Naulakhi Well, a fine example of a step well or baoli, and the EME temple, a unique temple with an aluminium roof, are worth paying a visit.
In the Khanderao Market is situated the superb Tambekarwada Haveli (mansion), a graceful four-storey structure covered in murals. The city comes to life during the festival of Navratri celebrated to honour Goddess Amba. Street corners, city squares and temple courtyards spill over with gorgeously attired men and women dancing the musical, almost mesmerizing Garba and Dandiya Ras.
The dance derives from the love legend of Radha-Krishna and the Gopis (milkmaids). For these nine nights every girl is altered into a gopi in embroidered flowing skirts and mirrored blouse, and the boys into Krishna, the eternal yet elusive lover. Understandably the time when love blooms
History
Modern Baroda is a great and fitting memorial to its late ruler, Sayaji Rao Gaekwad III (1875-1939 AD). It was the dream of this able administrator to make Baroda an educational, industrial and commercial centre and he ensured that his dream would come true.Baroda is situated on the banks of the river Vishwamitri (whose name is derived from the great saint Rishi Vishwamitra). The city was once called Chandravati, after its ruler Raja Chandan, then Viravati, the abode of the brave, and then Vadpatra because of the abundance of banyan trees on the banks of the Vishwamitri. From Vadpatra it derived its present name Baroda or Vadodara.
Baroda has a rich historical background. The ardent historian can trace Baroda's history over 2000 years and more. However, the recent threads can be picked up when the Moghul rule over the city came to an end in 1732, when Pilaji brought the Maratha activities in Southern Gujarat to a head and captured it. Except for a short break, Baroda continued to be in the hands of the Gaekwads from 1734 to 1949.
The greatest period in the Maratha rule of Baroda started with the accession of Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1875. It was an era of great progress and constructive achievements in all fields.
Maharaja Sayajirao was one of the foremost administrators and reformers of his times. He initiated a series of bold socio-economic reforms. He attached great importance to economic development and started a number of model industries to encourage initiative, and then handed back the working industries to private enterprise. He started model textile and tile factories. It is as a result of his policy of industrial development that Baroda is today one of the most important centres for textile, chemical and oil industries today. He introduced a number of social reforms. In no department of administration has the far-sighted policy of this wise ruler been more conspicuous than in education, and in none have the results been more real and tangible. He boldly introduced compulsory primary education and a library movement (the first of its kind in India) to augment his adult education scheme.
It was he who visualised a general scheme of development in all branches of knowledge at different stages, with the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda at the apex. Modern Baroda owes its beauty, its educational institutions and its masterpieces of architecture to the insight and vision of this great ruler.
There is a saying that nothing grows under the banyan tree, but this is not true of Baroda. Having witnessed the rise and fall of the empires and kingdoms of the Hindus, Pathans, Moghuls and Marathas, it now occupies a unique position on the educational, cultural and industrial map of India. Yet, it has been fortunate enough to retain the beauty of its rich and varied past. and it is one of the few cities in India which is still influenced by the lost might of its ruling dynasties.
The earliest record of Baroda city is found in a land grant dating back to AD 812. In the grant, Baroda is referred to as Vadapadraka. It was also known as Chandanavati, after a local Rajput ruler.
The history of Baroda is divided into different periods. The Hindu period lasted from ancient times until 1297. The Muslim rulers of the Delhi sultanate ruled this region from 1297 to 1401. An independent Muslim kingdom was established here, which was known as the Gujarat Sultanate. The present city was established during this period, which spanned from 1401 to 1573.
Baroda became the part of the mighty Mughal Empire when Akbar, the Mughal emperor, defeated the local Muslim ruler in 1573. The Mughal period lasted until 1734, when the Maratha period started under the Gaekwads and from 1734 to 1947, it was their capital.
In 1802, the British, under the banner of the East India Company, established a residency in Baroda to cement their relation with the Gaekwads. Later this residency was responsible for all the erstwhile princely states of Gujarat and Kathiawad. In 1947, when India gained independence and the princely states were abolished, it became a part of the state of Gujarat.
Pre-20th Century History
Baroda's history goes back 2000 years, with the earliest record of the city found in a land grant dated 812 AD. In the grant, Baroda is referred to as 'Vadapatra' because of the abundance of banyan trees on the banks of the Vishwamitri river. From Vadapatra, it derives its present name Vadodara or Baroda. It was also once known as 'Chandanavati', after its ruler Raja Chandan, and then as 'Viravati', the abode of the brave. The ancient Hindu period in Baroda ended when the Muslim rulers of the Delhi Sultanate took over the region from 1297 to 1401. The city of Baroda as it exists today developed during this period from 1401 to 1573 when it became part of the mighty Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar. This Mughal period lasted until 1734 when the Gaekwad rulers took over and Baroda flourished under the Maratha regime until 1947. The greatest period in the Maratha rule of Baroda started with the accession of Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1875. It was under his behest that a number of bold socio-economic reforms were undertaken greatly changing the face of administration, education and industrial development. In 1802, the East India Company, established a residency in Baroda while all power stayed with the Gaekwads.Modern History
Baroda became a part of the state of Gujarat in 1947 when India gained independence and all princely states were abolished. Up to the early 1960s, Baroda was considered to be the cultural and educational hub of Gujarat. The Maharaja Sayaji Rao University also known as M.S. University produced great artists who heralded new movements and helped shape the unique identity of modern Indian art. However, in 1962 Baroda witnessed a sudden explosion in industrial activity with the establishment of the Gujarat Refinery. In addition, the discovery of oil and gas at Ankleshwar and North Gujarat led to great economic progress for the entire state, Baroda being one of its biggest beneficiaries.Recent History
Over the last few years, large-scale industries continue to be set up and Baroda continues to attract entrepreneurs and new businesses. However, it suffered serious setbacks in the recent communal riots that engulfed Gujarat after the burning of a train carrying Hindu kar sevaks, by a Muslim mob at Godhra. The Hindu backlash, supported by the state's right wing forces, resulted in a tragic loss of life and property and Muslims still live in fear across Gujarat. In May 2006, the 200 year old dargah of Chishti Rashduddin was razed in the name of demolition of unauthorized structures. Religious tolerance continues to be low across the state.Baroda has plenty to offer to lovers of history and culture. Its many palaces and art galleries are a treat and one can browse through the city's historic relics and beautiful artworks for days on end. One of the main attractions in Baroda is also the Sayaji Bagh, an extensive park which also houses a small zoo. The Baroda Museum 1 Gallery displays art and textiles from all over the world as well as archeological remains and Mughal miniatures. Another museum, the Maharaj Fateh Singh Museum is located in the southern part of the city and includes European works by Titian, Raphael and Murillo. The Laxmi Vilas Palace in the south of town is one of Baroda's most extravagant palaces now turned into a heritage hotel. Excursions from Baroda can be made to nearby villages like Champaner and Dabohi. Ahmedabad, with its rich historical past and spectacular mosques and temples lies 100 km north of Baroda.
History Vadodara
The earliest mention of Vadodara dates back to about 812 AD. The region was ruled by Hindu rulers till 1297. By 1573, Vadodara was ruled by the Gujarat Sultan. Their domination ove most of central India continued unchallenged for over a hundred years till the Marathas emerged as strong contenders in the 1730s. Vadodara became the new stronghold of the Marathas and Gaekwads, who made it their capital in 1735. Howeve, the rule continued uninterrupted till Indian Independence in 1947.sThe People & Culture
The people of Baroda like to tell visitors that their city is a ‘Sanskari Nagari', that is, a ‘cultured city'. By and large, the visitors agree. The city does indeed have rich cultural traditions. and today's Barodians have quite a full and hectic cultural life throughout the year.The outstanding trait about Baroda's cultural life is that it is remarkably cosmopolitan. and while there are hundreds of different identities, everyone participates in all activities. So, the culture of the city is not just history or heritage; it is dynamic, ever-changing and alive.
More or less every Indian community has an active identity in this city. and this happy co-existence is reflected in the social and cultural life of the people. In all of this, the sprawling and cosmopolitan MS University campus and the large number of local, national and foreign industries act as a catalysing and unifying force.
The average Barodian is open to the world and overflowing with hospitality, as the history and growth of the city aptly testify.
Baroda's cultural enthusiasm, you should visit this city during any festive occasion Navratri, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Id, New Year, Uttarayan, Holi, campus fun fairs, etc. On any given day, some cultural activity or the other is going on in the city. Classical music and dance have their patrons, and so does the modern stage and pop culture. The culture and the traditions are both alive and being forever experimented with.
Can you expect anything less from a city which is blessed by its geography and its history, which is the home of a vibrant internationally renowned university and which is a key component of India's industrial base? The people of Baroda have not only hung on to the cultural heritage, they embellish it as they exuberantly go on with their daily lives.
The official language of Gujarat is Gujarati, but Hindi, Marathi and English are also widely used in Baroda. State and local government offices in the city use both Gujarati and English, Central government offices use English and Hindi and industrial and commercial organisations use English. The medium of instruction at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU) is English. The medium of instruction in the city's schools varies Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi, English, etc.
The cultural life is of course in many languages. and on the streets, in the markets and at other public places you can hear ‘AKHA INDIA' (the whole of India).
Population 1961: 298,398 1971: 467,487 1981: 734,473 1991: 1,031,346 (males 53%; females 47%) 1995: 1,200,000 (approx.) 1998: 1,400,000 (approx.) 2001: 1,500,000 (projected) 2011: 2,100,000 (projected) Number of households: 213,540 Population density: 9,527 per sq km Motorised vehicles: 300,000 Election Wards: 26 Seats (Corporators): 78 Population per ward: 31,122.50 Seats reserved for women: 26 Total voters (as on 17-1-97): 809,185
Vadodara
The City of Vadodara apty described by a medieval Jain writer as a "Tilak on the Brove of Lata" is a nodal center of the costal plain of Gujarat. It is Strategically situaled at a junction of the main highways linking Gujarat with Rajputana and the Punjab in the north, the Malva and the Gangetic valley in the north east, Konkan in the south and khandesh in the south-east. Significantly Vadodara today is a junction on the western railway of the lines leading to Amdavad and Delhi. This confirms the historic role of Vadodara in the communication pattern for movements of people and culture. The history of Vadodara city amply bears out its cultural and commercial activities during the last two thousand years. Apart form the traditional stories, our knowledge of the history of Vadodara is based mainly on jain literature and a few old inscriptions pertaining to Vadodara.Location
Vadodara is located at 22.30 N and 73.20 E. It has an average elevation of about 194 metres (636ft) . It is located on the Vishwamitri River, southeast of Ahmedabad.Demography
As of 2001 census, Vadodara has a population of about 1,306,035. Males constitute around 52% of the population and females, 48%. Vadodara has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. The male literacy is 82%, and the femlae literacy is 74%.Legend has it that the late Gaekwad of Baroda once used a scooter to speed from his bedroom to the dining room of the extensive Laxmi Vilas Palace, where the palace kitchen itself lay two miles away from the dining area. The incident sums up the landscape of Baroda, evoking images of sprawling palaces and royal grandeur. Although the days of caparisoned elephants are now a thing of the distant past, and have been replaced with industrial waste, pollution and traffic, the city retains its historical charm and an affinity for the arts. Modern day Baroda is a rush of noisy traffic and crowded multiplexes, although the city's esteemed Maharaja Sayajirao University attempts to strike a balance by producing the country's finest artists and art historians. Baroda's museums and art galleries hide some national treasures and its open spaces are privy to much celebration, song and dance during its most vibrant festival - Navratri. However, the city's exuberance has been clouded by the recent communal riots that ripped Gujarat's fabric. Once the centre of revolutionary ideology and new artistic movements, Baroda was reduced to a town of communal hatred and is slowly getting back to its feet again.