Gujarat • 3 monuments
Originally set up in the year 1881, the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda became a university in 1949 after India became independent. Spread over 275 acres of land, this university has over 25000 students on its rolls. Named after Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the erstwhile rulers of Baroda of the royal Gaekwad dynasty of the Marathas, it holds the rare distinction of being the only university in Gujarat in which English is the medium of instruction for all courses. Feted as one of the top 10 universities in India, Maharaja Sayajirao University is a teaching and residential university. The M. S. University offers courses in various subjects like arts, science and law among many others. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, the university building is an architectural wonder in its own right. Another interesting feature is that one of the main domes of the university building is designed in the lines of the iconic Gol Gumbaz of Bijapur. The building has a stunning ensemble of Indian and Byzantine arches, and domes made of brick and polychrome stone. The university plays host to an array of cultural and literary events and art exhibitions. The Navaratri festival events in the university attract massive crowds. There is also a small theatre, Playbox, in the campus. Another attraction of the university is the Hansa Mehta Library that has over 700,000 books and old journals, which is open to the public. The museum, which forms part of the Maharaj Sayajirao University, attracts tourists as well. It has various Buddhist relics and archaeological pieces.
Lakshmi Vilas Palace is a luxurious building constructed in Indo-Saracenic school of architecture during the reign of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890. The palace is set in an expansive estate of over 700 acres and was originally the royal residence of the Gaekwad family. It holds the distinction of being the largest private dwelling built anywhere in the world till date. It is over four times the size of Buckingham Palace and has all the amenities such as elevators when it was constructed. The palace complex also houses many other buildings including the Moti Baug Palace and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum building. The prime attraction of the palace is its highly ornamental Darbar Hall, which is embellished with Belgium stained glass windows and Venetian mosaic floor and an Italinate courtyard of water fountains outside. The pillars are decked up with marble stones of various hues, which add up to the regal charm of the structure. The palace is a treasure trove of various sculptures and armoury. The palace is open to the public and an audio tour is available.
The Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, located within the premises of the magnificent Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara is a must see tourist attraction in Vadodara. It is especially well known for its rich collection of artefacts that date back to the 19th and the 20th centuries including some exquisite masterpieces by European painters such as Titan, Murillo and Raphael. Other items on display include Western and Indian miniature paintings, Japanese and Chinese art and Greco-Roman exhibits. Exquisite Raja Ravivarma Paintings based on Hindu mythology deserve a special mention. The museum also has many art works and possessions of the royal family of Vadodara. The museum also houses replicas of sculptures and art works of some of the finest artists apart from a rich collection of many original sculptures of famous artists. The museum that is set amidst expansive lawns attracts tourists from far and wide all round the year.
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