Stand on the terrace of Laxmi Vilas Palace and the city spreads out below you in a mix of Indo-Saracenic domes, tiled roofs and the green line of the Vishwamitri River. Vadodara, also known as Baroda, calls itself the Sanskrutik Nagari and Kala Nagari — the Cultural City and the City of Art — and the name holds up once you start moving between its palaces, museums, old-city gates and stepped wells.
The city suits travellers who like their sightseeing anchored in one place: it is well connected by rail, road and air, and the Wikivoyage guide suggests using it as a hub for day trips rather than trying to stretch a visit beyond about three days. It also rewards people who plan around a single interest — art, architecture or the royal Gaekwad legacy — because several of the best stops are collections rather than quick photo opportunities.
This guide covers the sights and experiences named in the source material, ordered with the strongest first, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions travellers ask most often.
Top things to do in Vadodara
1. Laxmi Vilas Palace
The imposing palace was built in the Indo-Saracenic tradition by Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1890, with an eclectic mix of Indian, Islamic and European elements, and Major Charles Mant as architect. The interior is full of multi-coloured marble and mosaic tile and includes a museum with portraits of the royal family and original paintings by Raja Ravi Varma.
To view the palace you must ask for a permit from the Maharaja's secretary in the palace office, or call ahead. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11AM to 5PM. If you are an art lover, the source suggests keeping aside a day for the palace and its museum together.
2. Fateh Singh Museum
Housed within the Maharaja's palace on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg in Navapura, this museum holds a notable collection of works belonging to the royal family of Baroda, alongside art works of masters collected and commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao. It is the place to go for several Raja Ravi Varma originals.
Because the museum sits inside the palace premises, combine it with your Laxmi Vilas Palace visit rather than treating it as a separate stop.
3. Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery
In the Dak Bunglaw area of Sayaji Baug Garden, the museum displays Indian musical instruments, Mughal miniatures, sculptures, textiles and objects from Japan, Tibet, Nepal and Egypt, collected by Maharaja Sayajirao, who was devoted to travel. The Picture Gallery shows paintings by British artists, also from Sayajirao's private collection.
It is open 10:30AM to 5PM, and the phone number is +91 265 279 3801. Since it sits inside Sayaji Baug Garden, pair it with the garden and the other attractions there in a single outing.
4. Sayaji Baug Garden (Kamatibaug)
Set on the banks of the Vishwamitri river, this garden is home to the Baroda Museum, the Sardar Patel Planetarium and the Sayaji Baug Zoo. A toy train runs around the garden covering a distance of 3.5 km.
This is the natural anchor for a half day: arrive in the morning, take the toy train, then move between the museum and planetarium at your own pace.
5. Sardar Patel Planetarium
At Sayajibaug Gate No.1, the pyramid-like building has four floors housing an amphitheatre, a planetarium chamber, an exhibition space and an observatory, with daily shows. Show times are 4–4:30PM in Gujarati, 5–5:30PM in English and 6–6:30PM in Hindi, and it is closed on Thursdays. Tickets are ₹20.
Time your garden visit so you finish at the planetarium for the English show, and check the day of the week before you build your plan around it.
6. Tambekar Wada
On Tambekar Road in Dandia Bazar, in the Raopura area, this is the private mansion of a chief minister of Baroda who lived during the last Mughal Empire. The wooden four-storey building is notable for its miniature-style painted murals depicting scenes from Lord Krishna's life, from the Mahabharata and from the Anglo-Maratha war. It is a heritage monument under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Only a small part of the historical mansion is open to the public, so set expectations accordingly and treat the murals as the reason to come.
7. Sursagar Lake (Chand Talao)
Built in the 18th century and also known as Chand Talao, this lake marks the centre of the city and is surrounded by the thrum of commerce in the Old City. A tall statue of Lord Shiva stands in the middle and is lit up on Maha Shivratri, working as a beacon over the lake. The perennial lake has gates at the bottom that are opened in case of overflooding, with the water pouring into the Vishvamitra River.
It sits right before Dandia Bazar, so combine it with your Tambekar Wada stop. The Shiva statue is lit during the Mahashivratri festival, which takes place in February or March every year.
8. The Old City gates and lanes
Gendi Gate on Gendi Gate Road in Moghul Wada is one of the few surviving gateways to the old city, and Mandvi Gate stands on Fatepura Road at Mandvi Gate Circle. Together they give you a sense of the old city's edges.
Walk between them rather than driving, and fold in the Central Library Baroda on Fatepura Road, one of the oldest public libraries in India, while you are in the area.
9. Khanderao Market
Another palatial building created by Sayajirao III in 1906, it was presented by him to the Municipality to mark the Silver Jubilee of his administration. The offices of Vadodara Municipal Corporation are located in the building.
It is a working civic building, so visit to look at the architecture rather than to tour the interior.
10. Kirti Mandir (Temple of Fame)
This is the cenotaph of the Maharajas of Baroda, and it appears in the source list alongside Kirti Stambh, which you can see in the same stretch of the city.
Treat it as a quiet, short stop rather than a full attraction, and pair it with the other central monuments on your route.
11. Hazira Maqbara (Qutubuddin Tomb)
At the Tagore Road and Vaijnath Mahadev Marg crossing in the Danteshwar area, this mausoleum contains the graves of Qutb-ud-din Muhammad Khan and his son Naurang Khan. It is an octagonal structure in the style of Mughal tombs.
It is a compact visit, so slot it into a route that already takes you through that part of the city.
12. Sevasi Vaav (Sevasi Well)
Beside the Sevasi Bus Stand, this is a stepped well with some beautiful carvings on its pillars.
Because it is a stepped well rather than a monument with facilities, go for the carvings and the structure itself, and combine it with whatever else brings you to that side of the city.
13. The EME temple
Built by the military, this temple is described as serene, and you can enjoy a pleasant hour in its premises.
An hour is the right unit of time here — it is a calm pause rather than a major sight, so place it between heavier stops.
14. Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU)
The university has one of the largest campuses in Gujarat, full of historical buildings including Kala Bhavan, a former palace.
Kala Bhavan is worth seeking out on the campus for the building itself, and it is a natural addition to a day that already includes the palace and museum.
15. Makarpura Palace
Close to the airport in Himmat Nagar, Marutidham Society, this former royal summer palace now houses a training school run by the Indian Air Force and is not open to the public. The building is modelled after Italian Renaissance prototypes.
It is worth a sight from outside only, so plan it as a drive-past on your way to or from the airport rather than a destination in itself.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Laxmi Vilas Palace, remembering that you need a permit from the Maharaja's secretary in the palace office and that it opens Tuesday to Sunday, 11AM to 5PM. Stay on for the Fateh Singh Museum, which is housed within the palace premises and holds the Raja Ravi Varma originals.
Afternoon: Move to Sayaji Baug Garden and take the toy train around the 3.5 km circuit. Visit the Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery, open 10:30AM to 5PM, then time your stop at the Sardar Patel Planetarium for the 5–5:30PM English show — unless it is Thursday, when the planetarium is closed.
Evening: Head into the Old City. See Sursagar Lake, right before Dandia Bazar, then walk to Tambekar Wada on Tambekar Road in Dandia Bazar for the painted murals, and finish at Gendi Gate or Mandvi Gate on Fatepura Road.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I plan to stay in Vadodara?
The source suggests planning a trip of not more than three days, because after that you will run out of things to do. It also notes that the city is cosmopolitan, infrastructurally decent and well connected by rail, road and air, which makes it a good base for day trips to other places.
Do I need permission to visit Laxmi Vilas Palace?
Yes. To view the palace you must ask for a permit from the Maharaja's secretary in the palace office, or call +91 265 242 6372. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11AM to 5PM.
When is the best time of year to visit?
The source describes three main seasons. The weather is hot from March to July, with average maximums around 39 °C. From November to February the average maximum is about 30 °C and the average minimum about 15 °C, with an extremely dry climate. The southwest monsoon brings a humid climate from mid-June to mid-September.
When can I see the Shiva statue at Sursagar Lake lit up?
The statue is lit with lights during the Mahashivratri festival, which takes place in February or March every year. Navratri, the city's biggest festival, normally falls in October and features Garba and Dandiya Raas dancing in traditional dress.
Decide which of these you want most — the palace and its collections, the museums in Sayaji Baug Garden, or the lanes and gates of the Old City — and start building your days around it.