Aurbindo Society

Relics of Shri Aurobindo are present here. It is open to all for meditation. It houses a library, study room and sales emporium.

Sri Aurobindo Nivas, Dandia Bazar, Vadodara, Gujarat 390001

0265 241 2685

Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery

The Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery was founded in 1887 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad. Created for the welfare and education .His subjects, his foresight and taste were responsible for the museum’s unique and varied collection. He procured the priceless items himself or specially entrusted the work to various scholars and art connoisseurs. Vadodara museum today possesses some very rare exhibits and enjoys an international reputation for being one of the best in the East.

Construction of museum was started in 1887 and was completed in 1894

The museum and the picture gallery are two separate two-storied buildings built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. They were designed by two English architects, R.F. Chisholm – the then Consulting State Architect – and Major R.N. Ment. The general outline of the museum building is in conformity with the traditional local Maratha architecture of wooden framework filled with brick walls. But the ground floor has the pure European style, including a cornice decorated with a plaster copy of a Parthenon frieze. The south porch rising on a vast flight of steps is decorated with early and later Mughal forms. The pure gallery building was designed in a simple European brick style, but it has Indian columns and open pavilions on the roof. The two building are connected by a covered bridge passage. The total floor area of both the buildings is about 40,000 sq. ft.

The Baroda Museum’s Rooms:

Michel Angelo
Graeco-Roman room
European Roman, 7th-18th centuries AD (pre-industrial period)
European Room: 18th-20th centuries AD (industrial period)
Special exhibition hall
Special exhibition hall
Library
Library
Store, Civilizations and Arts of Asia
Greater Indian room
Ceylon, Burma, Siam, Malaya, Indo-China, Indonesia
Japanese Gallery
Tibet-Nepalese gallery
Egypt-Babylonian Gallery
Chinese Gallery
Islamic Gallery (Persia, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Spain, etc.), Survey of Indian civilisation and arts
Baroda room (Gujarat and Maratha art)
Indian art since ca AD 1200 (mainly painting and industrial)
Central hall (Baroda state history)
Prehistoric and protohistoric room
Archaeological section

The Picture Gallery’s Rooms:

1. Balcony with a Bronze statue
2,3. European paintings of the 15th -18th centuries AD
4. European paintings of 19th century AD
5. Picture restoration room
6. Store
7,8. Modern Indian picture gallery, natural history room
9-14. Zoology
15. Paleontology
16. Ethnology
17. Mineralogy, petrology, geology

Baroda Museum’s Activities

Every year it has about 700,000 visitors from all parts of the world. For the benefit of visitors and the general public the museum organises various educational activities.

It is open round the year (10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.), except for 5 public holidays.
The entrance is Rs. 5 per visitor, but children under 12 years are exempted.
The museum periodically organises cultural and educational exhibitions on various topics.
Illustrated lectures are arranged in the museum’s lecture theatre and experts on different subjects are specially invited for this purpose.
Educational films are shown regularly for the benefit of school children and visitors.
The services of guides are provided.
‘Gallery-talks’ are also arranged for school children and illiterate students.
Facilities for drawing and study of exhibits at close quarters are provided.
Necessary permission to take photographs of exhibits and to make use of the library for research work can be obtained by making a written application.
The museum publishes its research bulletins annually.
Plaster-cast models of some selected objects of the museum are prepared by skilled artists in the modelling studio and sold to interested persons.

The Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery is now a part of the Gujarat state Department of Museums.

For further details, contact:
Director
Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery
Sayajibaug, Vadodara 390 018, India
Phone: +91-265-793589. Telefax: +91-265-791959

For specific inquiries regarding exhibits, contact:
Mr. Satish Sadasivan, Curator (Arts)
Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery
Sayajibaug, Vadodara 390 018, India
Phone: +91-265-2793801. Telefax: +91-265-2791959
E-mail: s_sadashivan@rediffmail.com

Sayaji Baug

Sayaji Baug (Kamatibaugh)is situated on river Vishwamitri and was built by Sayajirao III in 1879. Built over 113 acres, it also includes an excellent zoo, the Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery, the Museum of Health and Hygiene and the Sardar Patel Planetarium.A major attraction for children is the 3.5 kms joy ride through the park on the toy train.

Surya Mandir

Surya Narayan Temple is the oldest temple of the city.

EME Temple

EME temple is famous due to its unique concept and design.EME Temple is a structure covered with aluminium sheets. Run entirely by the army authorities, this temple is a major attraction for both tourist and devotees.

Kirti Mandir

Kirti Mandir, or temple of fame, is the footsteps of the Gaekwads. It was built by Maharaja Sayaji Rao in remembrance of the glorious memory of his ancestors. The sun, the moon and the earth in bronze with the undivided map of India adorn the shikhar of Kirti Mandir. Kirti Mandir was built in 1936 as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III

Nyaymandir

The Nyaya Mandir is the temple of justice, It is great example of Byzantine architecture. It houses the Court of Baroda.

Mandvi Gate

This imposing structure was built during the Mughal period and was restored in 1736 A.D. by the Governor, Malharoa Maloji under the orders of Damaji Roa II (1732-1768 A.D.).

Lehripura Gate

Built as the western gateway to the old city in 1558, Lehripura Gate is an impressive structure with beautiful arches.

Maqbara (Hajira)

Built in 1586, the tomb of Qutbuddin (the army general of the 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 Moghul monuments of the city.

Maharaja Sayajirao University

Established in 1949, MSU is one of India’s outstanding and largest universities. With roughly 50000 students from different department. It has mostly all educational department which are internationally renowned. The campus has many architecturally interesting buildings.

Mahatma Gandhi nagar gruh

This is the city’s town hall and was constructed in 1954. It is used for various functions and programs.

Darbar Hall

The Darbar Hall is insideLaxmi Vilas Palace, the court room of the Gaekwads. Here musicians performed and entertained the royal family. The beautiful jharokhas, the magnificent chandeliers and the intricate work on the glass windows enhance the beauty of the hall. Classical music concerts are held here.

Laxmi Vilas Palace

It is designed in Indo-Saracenic style and was built by Maharaja Sayajirao III. Started in 1878 and completed in 1890, it is the residence of the royal family. The palace contains a collection of old Armour as well as bronze and marble sculptures. Fatehsinh Rao Museum, located on the palace grounds, houses the royal collection of paintings, sculptures and other objects of arts.

Nazarbaug Palace

Situated in the old walled city near the Mandvi Clock Tower, it is the oldest palace built in old classic style by Malhar Rao Gaekwad in the late 19th century

Nimeta Garden

Nimeta, 15 kms from the city, managed by Vadodara Municipality Corporation Biggest garden of vadodara. Nimeta is a very popular picnic spot.

Beautiful Garden Of vadodara and is also Famous picnic spot. This Garden is also known as “LOVE garden”

Khandaro Market

This is governmant building erected by Sayaji Roa III in 1906. It was presented by him as a gift to the Municipality to mark the Silver Jubilee of his administration. The offices of the Baroda Municipal Offices are located in this building.

Raopura Tower

Used as clock for royal family. It is visible directly from Palace

Sayaji Sarovar

The Sayaji Sarovar or Ajwa lake, 22 kms away from the city is the principal source of water. It is formed by damming the Surya river and Vaghali Nala. Work on the scheme was started in 1885 and was completed in 1890. The gardens at Ajwa are patterned after the famous Brindavan Gardens of Mysore. The illumination of fountains is a major attraction for tourists.