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Vadodara (Baroda)

Pop: 1,200,000 Area Code: 0265

Vadodara is a city at which visitors may stop on their way to the west coast of Gujarat. Before Independence, Vadodara was the capital of the princely state of Gaekwad. The Maharaja of Gaekwad was very wealthy and was one of the five rulers to receive a twenty-one-gun salute. Vadodara is 390km north of Mumbai (7 hr) and 100km south of Ahmedabad (2 hr).

Information
The railway station, inexpensive hotels, and bus stand are all in the same area of town west of the Vishvarmurti River, which flows through the center of the city. Tilak Rd, which runs west–east, is the town’s main street on which or near by are many of the hotels and other facilities.

The City Tourist Office (794-456) is to the left across from the railway station (9 am to 6 pm). They arrange tours of the city on Tues, Wed, and Fri (2 to 6 pm, Rs 20) and tours of the city and places outside it on Mon, Sat, and Sun (2 to 9 pm, Rs 35).

Gujarati Tourism (427-489) in the Narmada Bhavan building, Nedar Kirti Mandir, is open daily except Sun 10:30 am to 6 pm.
Money can be exchanged at the State Bank of India, RC Dutt Rd; Bank of Baroda, near Kadak Bazaar, Sayaji Gunj; and Bank of South India.
The GPO is in the middle of the city off Raopura Road.

Travel agents: Tradewings (327-127), Sayajiganj; Travel Corp of India (322-181), Vishwas Colony.
Swimming pools: at the Hotel Welcome Group Vadodara, Sardar Bagh pool at Alkapuri, Lal Bagh pool and, Hotel Surya Palace.

Sayaji Bagh Park
Sayaji Bagh is a large park with a mini-railway.
The Vadodara Museum and Art Gallery (daily except Thurs 10 am to 5 pm) is in the park. The museum displays paintings done by famous European artists and Mughal miniatures. It has archaeological finds and ancient Jain sculptures.
The Zoo is open daily except Thurs 8 to 11:30 am and 2 to 5 pm. Admission Rs 1.

The Planetarium is open daily except Thurs; shows in English at 4:30 pm.

Laxmi Vilas Palace and Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum
The Laxmi Vilas Palace has a sculpture and weapon collection. The Durbar Hall is outstanding with its stained glass windows and mosaic tiles. It is not usually open to the public, but foreigners can often visit if they call in advance (431-819) or by asking in the offices opposite the entrance.

Located in the museum are exhibits including an impressive art exhibition with works done by Raphael, Murillo, and Titan. Represented are also Indian, Japanese, and Chinese artists, and paintings done by Raja Ravi Varma.

The museum is just south of the Palace. Open daily except Mon 9 am to noon and 3 to 6 pm from July to March, and between April and June 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Naulakhi Well, 100m north of the palace, is an interesting step well.

Other Places
Nazar Bagh Palace (1721) has solid gold and silver guns, each barrel weighing over 100kg. It has a Shish Mahal (Mirror Hall).

Tambekarwada is an excellent, old painted haveli once belonging to the Diwan of Vadodara (1849-54). A two-minute walk from the GPO.
The 13th century Dabhol Fort, 30km southeast of Vadodara, has interesting gateways, especially the Hira (Diamond) Gate.

ISKCON Temple
The ISKCON Temple (326-299) is in a peaceful area on Gotri Rd, about 2km from the railway station. A new temple is presently under construction.

Where to Stay—Lower
Many of the cheaper hotels are within walking distance of the railway station.
Jagdish Hindu Lodge (361-345) is on the third road to your right as you come straight out of the railway station. It is a friendly place with basic rooms for Rs 100.
On the same road is the Hotel Vikram (327-737) with rooms for Rs 175/275 and Rs 250/400 with A/C.
Green Hotel (323-111), RC Dutt Rd, is a quiet, clean, well-kept place with rooms for Rs 125 per person. It is the best budget option.
Delux (329-604), Kadak Bazaar, is a clean budget hotel just south of the station.
Ambassador Hotel (362-726; fax 310-129) on the right from the station is a large place with big quiet rooms with TV for Rs 300/400 and Rs 550/600 with A/C. They have a few dumpy rooms on the ground floor, so get an upstairs room. 24-hour checkout.
On the next street over is the Apsara Hotel (362-345), a well-maintained and popular hotel with good rooms with bath for Rs 200/270.

Where to Stay—Middle and High
Hotel Surya (361-361), opposite Ambassador Hotel, has modern rooms for Rs 450/600 and Rs 700/900 with A/C.
Across the street is the brand new Rama Inn (330-131; fax 337-735), with first-class facilities, a swimming pool, health club, and cable TV. Rooms go for Rs 600/750 and Rs 800/950 with A/C. It is a very good value. 24-hour checkout.
The four-star Express Hotel (330-750; fax 330-980), RC Dutt Rd, 1km from the railway station, has A/C rooms for $40/60. It is a friendly place.
Welcomgroup Vadodara (330-033; fax 330-050), RC Dutt Rd, is a five-star hotel with luxury rooms ranging from $70/90 to $140/160. It has a pool, travel office, good restaurant, and 24-hour coffee shop. Business customers receive a good discount.

Where to Eat
One of the best places in town is the South Indian Woodlands Restaurant on Race Course Rd, by the circle.
Kansaar, 101 Unique Trade Centre, Sayaji Gunj, is a Gujarati vegetarian thali place, a five-minute walk to your right from the railway station.
Kalyan Hotel, Sayaji Gunj, is a popular place serving Indian and Mexican food.
Radhika, Tilak Rd, Sayaji Gunj, is a popular, inexpensive thali restaurant. The red sign is in Gujarati.
Dawat, Ivory Towers, Alkapuri, has good, inexpensive food.
Sahayog, off RC Dutt Rd, serves very good South Indian, Punjabi, and Gujarati thalis.
Oriental Spice, Tilak Rd, Sayaji Gunj, is a good Chinese place, but expensive.
Canara Coffee House has good, inexpensive South Indian snacks.
Havmoor, Tilak Rd, has decent Continental, Chinese, and Indian food.
Hotel Gokul, Koti Char Rasta, serves good Gujarati and South Indian thalis at economical prices.
Ruchika, in the Welcomgroup Vadodara, is a good place. Expect to pay over Rs 200 for a meal here.

Travel
Air There are flights to Mumbai (two daily), Delhi (four a week), and Pune (daily). The Indian Airlines office (794-747; Airport: 443-262) is on University Rd, Fateh Ganj. The airport is 6km northeast of downtown (Rs 30 by auto-rickshaw).
Gujarat Airways (330-864; fax 339-628); Jet Airways (337-051), Panorama Complex, Alkapuri. British Airways, RC Dutt Rd. Japan Airlines, RC Dutt Rd.

Train Vadodara is on the main Delhi-Mumbai line. There are many trains to both Mumbai and Ahmedabad and five trains daily to and from Delhi. The Paschim Exp #2925 (5:50 pm) is a good train to Delhi (18 hr) via Mathura (15½ hr). The fully A/C Rajdhani Exp #2951 (5:30 pm), departs daily to Delhi (12 hr) via Kota (7 hr). It goes in the other direction to Mumbai (5 hr).
The Saurashtra Mail #9005 (3:50 am, 13 hr) departs to Dwarka via Ahmedabad. The fully A/C Shatabdi Express goes to Mumbai Central (5 hr), Surat (1 hr), and Ahmedabad (2 hr). There are trains to Jaipur (12 hr) and Sawai Madhopur (9 hr).

Yogikrupa Travel Service (327-677), opposite the station, can purchase a train ticket for you so you don’t have to wait in the long lines yourself.

Bus  The long distance bus station is half a km north of the railway station. From here there are buses to all over Gujarat, northern Maharashtra, and western Madhya Pradesh. There are buses to Ahmedabad (2½ hr, every half-hour, Rs 35), Dakor, Mumbai (12 hr), Surat, Rajkot (8 hr), Bhavnagar (6 hr), Pune, and Bhopal (16 hr). The private bus companies have their offices near the bus station on Tilak Rd.

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