Vadodara or Baroda is a prominent Indian cosmopolitan city in Gujarat. The beautiful city steeped in history, art and culture, is located on the banks of the Vishvamitri River and is famously known as “The Cultural City” or “The City of Art”. It has a strong tourist footfall and is home to architectural wonders like Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Makarpura Palace, Hazira Maqbara, among others which are considered some of the best places to visit in Vadodara.
Whether an admirer of art and architecture or an inquisitive traveller, Vadodara will not fail to enthral you with its vast array of tourist attractions. From museums, gardens, palaces, temples to the famous Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda has everything you need for an exciting travel experience.
If you are travelling to Baroda and are unsure of where to start, we’ve got you. Here is the list of 15 amazing places to visit in Vadodara that you may want to check out and add to your travel bucket list. Happy reading 🙂
15 Magnificent Places to Visit in Vadodara
1. Laxmi Vilas Palace
Once the residence of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, Laxmi Vilas Palace is one of the most opulent and magnificent architectural structures in India. Spread across an area of over 700 acres, this palace was styled by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad II in the Indo-Saracenic Revival architectural style.
Built four times the size of the famous Buckingham Palace, Laxmi Vilas Palace boasts of sprawling lawn, golf course, and houses the Moti Bagh and Maharaja Fateh Museum. One of the top places to visit in Vadodara, Laxmi Vilas Palace is a great site to witness the opulence and grandeur of the Gaekwad Dynasty.
- Timings: Wednesday to Monday – 9.30 AM to 5 PM; Closed on Tuesdays
- Entry Fees: Rs 200 per person
2. Baps Sri Swaminarayan Mandir
Among the various tourist attractions in Vadodara, BAPS Sri Swaminarayan Mandir is quite famous. The temple has an intricate design, awe-inspiring architecture, a tranquil vibe and an immaculate interior that instantly calms your mind and soul. Sri Swaminarayan temple houses the beautifully carved idols of Shri Swaminarayan, Shri Nilkanth Varni, Shri Gopalanand Swami, Shri Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami, among others, and holds great significance for the Hindu devotees.
- Timings: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM & 4:00 PM-8:00 PM
- Entry Fees: Admission is free
3. Hazira Maqbara
Hazira Maqbara in Vadodara is home to the tombs of Qutb-ud-din Muhammad Khan (tutor of Emperor Akbar’s son, Salim) and his son
Naurang Khan. One of the famous places to Vadodara, Hazira Maqbara is influenced by the Mughal tombs in Delhi and consists of five arches, a double dome, stepwell and a well-kept garden. You can also find Quranic verses inscribed inside the tomb chamber, arches and other areas. Visit this site and explore its excellent architecture, which is a trademark of the Mughals during their rule.
- Timings: 8 AM to 6:30 PM
- Entry Fees: Rs 20 for children above 12 and adults; Rs 15 for children below 12 years
4. Kirti Mandir
Kirti Mandir (or Temple of Fame) in Baroda is a cenotaph, a magnificent temple erected by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in the honour of the Gaekwad dynasty of Marathas and its powerful ancestors. It was built in the year 1936 for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Maharaja and consists of balconies, domes, terraces and a shikhara at the centre, which showcases the sun, moon, earth and the undivided map of India.
- Timings: 10 AM – 6:30 PM
- Entry Fees: Rs 20 per person
5. Vadodara Museum & Picture Gallery
Baroda Museum of Vadodara Museum & Picture Gallery was founded by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1887. Among the many places to visit in Vadodara, this museum is an important and interesting site that houses precious artworks, paintings, the famous Egyptian mummy, skeleton of a baby blue whale, Tibetan art, Agota bronze, etc that are the major attractions here. A trip to this museum will give you a glimpse of relics covering different fields from geology to archaeology and ethnology.
- Timings: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Entry Fees: Rs 10 per person (Indian); Rs 200 per person (foreigners);
6. ISKCON Baroda
One of the top tourist places in Vadodara, ISKCON Baroda is a famous temple that has 3 altars, one each dedicated to Gauranitai, Radha-Krishna, and Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra. Thousands of tourists and locals flock here to pay obeisance to the deities and seek their blessings. The temple is huge and consists of massive altars, an ashram for the brahmacharis and a beautiful farm. It is also surrounded by lush and well-maintained gardens and also consists of a restaurant serving hygienic and flavourful food to visitors.
- Timings: Open 24 hours
- Entry Fees: None
7. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
Situated amidst the Pavagadh Hills, and in the heart of the city of Champaner, the Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is one of the best places to visit in Vadodara. This wonderful park has made to the elite list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and boasts of spectacular forts, bastions and other architectural wonders such as mosques, temples, tombs, cultural heritage monuments, agricultural structures and step-wells. Overall, the park documents the transition between the Hindu and Muslim cultures beautifully.
- Timings: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Entry Fees: Rs 30 per person (Indians); Rs 500 per person (foreigners);
8. Surya Narayan Temple
Surya Narayan Temple is famous and well-known among the pilgrimage places in Vadodara. As the names suggested, the temple is dedicated to the Sun God and is located in Jambubet, Vadodara. Devotees from all across the globe visit this temple as the deity is believed to relieve people off their ailments and sorrows.
- Timings: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Entry Fees: None
9. Makarpura Palace
Makarpura Palace is another splendid Gaekwad palace in Vadodara built in the year 1870 by Maharaja Khende Rao. The palace borrows the Italian Renaissance Architecture style and boasts of Italian style multifoil fountains, ornate rooms made from bricks, wooden staircases, arch-shaped balconies, resplendent murals and paintings adorning the ceiling, Chaneliers and a sprawling Japanese Garden. One of the most beautiful places to visit in Vadodara, Makarpura Palace is an excellent example of the opulence and grandiosity of the Royal Gaekwad Family.
- Timings: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Entry Fees: Rs 125 per person
10. Sardar Patel Planetarium
Sardar Patel Planetarium is a spectacular pyramid-shaped building with a capacity of 200 spectators located in the beautiful Sayaji Baug in Vadodara.
One of the best places to visit in Vadodara and a great site to learn about the outer space, Sardar Patel Planetarium enthralls inquisitive children with its hour-long, awe-inspiring videos on the outer space, satellites, solar system and astronomy three times a day, in English, Hindi and Gujarati.
- Timings: 3:45 PM – 6:00 PM (Closed on Thursday)
- Entry Fees: Rs 20 per person
11. Hathni Waterfall
Hathni Waterfalls tops the list of waterfalls near Vadodara. Located in Jambughoda, the magnificent waterfalls is also a beautiful picnic place near Vadodara where you can visit with your friends or family and enjoy some quality time together. Falling from a height of 100 metres, the bewitching beauty of the Hathni Mata Waterfalls is a sight to admire, and the surrounding lush greenery only adds grace to it.
- Timings: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Entry Fees: None
12. Sayaji Garden
Sayaji Baug or Kamati Baug is the biggest garden in Western India and is spread across over 100 acres of land. Built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Vadodara, the picturesque garden also houses the world’s biggest floral clock. The massive garden is home to a vast variety of flora and fauna, and is said to have 98 species of trees. Comprising the Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery, Sardar Patel Planetarium and the Sayaji Baug Zoo, Sayaji Garden is undoubtedly one of the top places to visit in Vadodara.
- Timings: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Entry Fees: None
13. Sursagar Lake
Sursagar or Chand Talao located in the heart of the city is one of the most amazing places to visit in Vadodara for couples, families and tourists. Surrounded by lush greenery, the lake has 120-feet tall Shiva statue, right in the middle of the lake. The captivating beauty of Sursagar can be best enjoyed while boating across the lake and is a perfect place for spending a relaxed evening.
14. Maharaja Sayajirao University
Maharaja Sayaji University or Baroda College is one of the elitest universities in India and best places to visit in Vadodara. It was established in 1881 and was named after Maharaja Sayajirao Geakwad III in 1949. The institution has numerous Faculties namely the Faculty of Arts, Science, Management Studies, Medicine and Pharmacy. It is also known for it impressive architecture – the dome influenced by the Gol Gumbaz, the arches are a fusion of Indian and Byzantine styles and the Faculty of Arts is built in the Indo-Saracenic style.
15. Khanderao Market
Khanderao Market is a perfect place for shopping in Vadodara. The market resides within an impressive edifice built by the Mahararaja, which also houses numerous office buildings. The Khanderao market has flower and fresh vegetables shops and is a favourite spot among street photographers who love to capture the energy of the live and bustling market in their lenses.
Here’s our list of 15 places to visit in Vadodara that you must check out whenever you plan a trip here. In case you are looking for safe stays, book hotels in Vadodara and enjoy a stress-free stay with us. Your stay is fully protected by Treebo Hygiene Shield safety standards.
