Inaugurated on 10th November 2010, the Dabhoi Heritage Park revisits the journey of railways. It looks back on the history of the Gaekwar Baroda State Railways (GBSR) through letters, photographs and time tables of a by-gone era when narrow gauge steam trains were the toast of the land.
Dabhoi & the Railways:
Dabhoi under the Gaekwars of Baroda grew into the hub of a network of narrow gauge lines that crisscrossed the countryside providing connections to places like the Chandod, Bodeli, and Timba. Dabhoi’s importance as a trade center in the 19th Century is what prompted the far-sighted Maharaja of Baroda, Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwar to push for the construction of railway line to link the city to the BB&CI mainline between Baroda and Bombay.
While the proposed alignment was for a narrow gauge line connecting Dabhoi to Itola, the Miyagam route
was later deemed more viable and in 1862 the first oxen-drawn goods and passenger carriages made their way between Dabhoi and Miyagam.
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The park provides a perfect place to marvel at the journey of the railways of one of the most famous princely states of India. It takes one through the journey of GBSR, that managed to execute the quickest turn-around in Narrow gauge history within six months of taking over these lines from the BB&CI.
Getting Here:
Much of the railway network that came up during the rule of the Gaekwads is still functioning. Thus it proves to be the perfect way to get to Dabhoi via a train from Pratapnagar station, Vadodara. The running time is 50 minutes from Pratapnagar to Dabhoi with daily trains departing at 7.10, 10.30 and 18.15. Return trains are available daily at 8.30, 11.50 and 19.30.
Alternatively, Dabhoi is a short 30 km drive from Vadodara, with regular GSRTC and private buses plying the route. Vadodara is of course well connected by road, rail, and air to Mumbai (392 km), Ahmedabad (100 km), and Delhi (986 km).
Timing: Dabhoi Heritage Park is open 365 Days, 24 Hours a day.
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