Established as the Baroda College of Science, and currently known as the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU), the college was opened in 1881. The foundation stone of the college was laid by visionary ruler Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III on January 8, 1879. It became a university on 30th April 1949, after the independence of the country and was later…
Hidden behind the tall trees and compound walls, is a regimental looking Neo-Classical building called Kalabhavan. Although, now known as the Senapati Bhavan, the building is sometimes referred to as the Kala Bhavan. This is because the Kala Bhavan Technical Institute was established in the building in 1890. After a few years the institute i.e. The Faculty of Technology &…
India has always given the world examples of religious tolerance and harmony and the Pearl carpet of Baroda is a testament to this. Originally a part of a five piece set, the Baroda Pearl Carpet was commissioned by Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad to give as an offering to the Prophet’s Tomb in Medina, in 1865. It is known that the Maharaja intended to…
Commissioned by Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad in 1865 , this Pearl Canopy was actually a part of a five piece set. Originally, supposed to be sent to Medina as an offering to the Prophet’s Tomb, the Set remained in Baroda’s treasury after the Maharaja passed away. The Canopy : Composed of approximately 950,000 precious ‘Basra pearls’, emeralds, sapphires, rubies and colored…
Built in the midst of what would have been extensive gardens, the Makarpura Palace was commissioned by Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad in 1870. The palace was built as a summer residence and a hunting resort for the royal family. The site of the palace was specially selected due to its proximity to the vast deer reserves, for hunting. Maharaja Khanderao spent…
This is a Palace located on Lal Baug main road near to Lalbaug Palace (Pratap Vilas Palace). This was Palace of the 4th son, Dhairyashilrao Gaekwad in Year 1940. The Palace now houses school named as ‘Prince Ashokraje Gaekwad School’. Rani Sahiba Devyaniraje Gaekwad, in fond memory of her husband, Late Prince Ashokraje Gaekwad (Grandson of Late H.H. Maharaha Sayajirao Gaekwad…
Situated in the Malabar Hill area, the Jayamahal Palace was regarded as one of the most beautiful private residences ever built in Bombay (now Mumbai). Standing on the western side of the hill, the Palace looked onto the Arabian sea. It was commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, probably in the 1900s. It was built in the Scottish style of…
Situated amid expansive gardens, mango orchards, and sprawling fields, the Lukshmi Vilas Palace is one of the most luxurious residences ever built. Commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1880, it is said to be four times the size of the Buckingham Palace. Completed around 1890, the majestic palace has been the residence of the Gaekwads, the rulers of the…
Serving the people of the city for more than a hundred years now, the Central Library of Baroda was conceived in 1906, when Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III introduced compulsory and free primary education in the Baroda State. Doing so the insightful ruler placed his territory far in advance of British India and became the first ruler to do so. The Visionary…
The Baroda State Library, now known as the Jaisinhrao Library is the most beautiful and the most silent building one can find amidst the frenzy of government buildings of the Kothi Compound. This library was basically the precursor of the Library Movement in India started by Maharaja sayajirao Gaekwad III. A new home for an old Library : The library…