VADODARA, Gujarat

Main Attraction: Pratapvilas palace

This palace was built in 1914 A.D. and is designed in Renaissance architecture. The entrance is adorned by exquisite carvings and the palace is noted for its architectural grandeur highlighted with columns and arches. Carvings of creepers, flowers, leaves, birds and animals on the columns make the palace lively. It has columns and arches drawn from South India, Central India, North India and Islamic tradition. It is a flamboyant building, designed in Indo-Sarcenic style.

The palace now houses the Railway Staff College also Known as 'The National Academy of Indian Railways' or 'Bharatiya Rail Rashtriya Akademy' (in Hindi). This is the main training ground of Indian Railways. A mini railway model can be seen inside the palace.

Pratap Vilas Palace, located near Lal Baug, was named after the last ruler of Baroda State. It was designed by Charles F. Stevens, son of F.W. Stevens, a British Architect. The Palace complex has an area of around 55 acres with well laid out gardens and large number of trees. Maharaja Sayajirao built this Palace for his eldest son Fatehsingh rao. Its construction was started on 15th February 1908. This is same year when last ruler of Baroda State, Pratapsingh rao was born and his father Fatehsingh rao died.

Brief History

Vadodara city is the administrative headquarter of the Vadodara district in Gujarat. It is often termed as Baroda and is the industrial capital of the state. The city stands on the bank of River Vishwamitri, flanked by a number of graceful buildings like palaces, parks, temples and museums. The cultural galore of Vadodara impels visitorsto historic city. In the ancient time, it served as the capital city of Gaekwads, the former rulers of Vadodara.

The district derivesits name from its head-quarters city Vadodara. The ancient town of Vadodara was once called „Chandanvati‟ after thename of Raja Chandan ofthe Dor tribe of Rajputs who wrested it from the jains. The name of Chandanvati or the „City of Sandalwood‟ was afterwards changed to Viravati or the „Abode of Warriors‟ and then again to Vatpatra or „Leaf of the Vad tree‟. One belief is that the flourishing Ankottaka (Modern Akota) developed one of its suburbs on the left bank of the Vishvamitri where Banyan (Vad) trees were in existence. Thus, suburb was, therefore appropriately known as the suburb near the „Banyan Tree‟ that is Vadapatraka meaning 'a village amidst the banyan trees'. Thus, it can be said that the present name of the district, viz. Vadodara is derived from Vadapatraka of the ancient period. Ancient Vadapadraka was ruled by the Chalukya dynasty in the 10th century, followed by the Solankis, the Vaghelas, and then the Sultans of Delhi and Gujarat. In 1674 the Maratha Empire declared war on the Mughal Empire, and defeated them in central and eastern Gujarat in mid-18th century.

Their representatives and ruling dynasty in Gujarat, the Gaekwads (meaning “protector of cows”), after having instigated the adivasi Bhils and Kolis to attack the Mughals, occupied Vadodara as their capital. In the early 19th century, after the Anglo-Maratha war, the British had control of much of Gujarat. Meanwhile, the Gaekwads had come into conflict with the Peshwas, the Marathas of Pune. The Gaekwads signed a special treaty with the British for protection from the Peshwas, and to give Baroda a degree of self-rule. The Gaekwad ruler was high in the pecking order under British rule, and was one of only 5 rulers to receive a 21-gun salute. Baroda was thus one of the few places to remain autonomous until Independence, and like Hyderabad and Mysore, one senses that it retains a flavor of the former princely Gaekwad state and never fully integrated into the central administration.

The Marathas invaded Gujarat in A.D. 1705 and took the advantage of the confusion that ensued after the death of Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb in A.D. 1707. Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath advanced on the viceroy of Gujarat Khaderao Dabhade, Maratha Senapati, at the outset intended to acquire from the Moguls the right to levy the tribute and the Chauhan and Sardeshmukhi. They obtained many sanands to levy tributes from Emperor Muhammad Shah at Delhi. From this time, their right to levy tribute in Gujarat was confirmed. Shortly after A.D. 1720, the Senapati received authority from the Raja of Satara to realize the dues established by usage from Gujarat and Belgam. One of his officers named Damaji Gaekwad, who had shown much gallantry in the battle, received from the Shahu Raja of Satara the title of Samsher Bahadur (illustrious Swordsman). On Damaji‟s death which occurred in A.D. 1721, his place of Lieutenant to Senapati was filled by his nephew Pilaji, the son of Jhingoji Gaekwad. Later Pilaji was given by the Peshwa the title of Senakhas Khel (Commander of the Special Band). The military power of Maratha forced Sarbulandkhan, the Mogul Viceroy at Ahmadabad to reorganize their right of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi in Gujarat. Pilaji Gaekwad then founded the House of Gaekwad at Baroda between 1721 and 1732 which existed as a separate princely State till it merged in Bombay State in 1949.

The Chhota Udaipur and Baria Chiefs belong to the Khichi Chohan clan of Rajputs, whose Chief Anal is said to have been created by Vashishtha Muni out of the Agni Kund on Mount Abu. According to the bardic accounts, a descendent of Patai Rawal alias Jaysinh the last Chohan Raja of Champaner established a small kingdom at Mohan or Alimohan on the banks of the river Narmada. In course of time during the decay of Mogul power in the early part of the 18th century, the capital was moved 20 miles north to Chhota Udaipur on the banks of the river. Baji Rawal is said to have founded Chhota Udaipur. It continued to remain a separate State till it was merged in Bombay province in 1949.

Among the Gaekwads, ruler Maharaja Sayajirao III, reigning 1875-1939, is credited with the most significant development of the city and bold socioeconomic reforms. He brought in changes to textile and other manufacturing processes that moved Baroda towards the booming industrial center it is now. He introduced compulsory primary education, even for girls, which was rare in India then, and organized schools for oppressed classes, tribals, and Muslims, also progressive moves for his time. He was a promoter of adult education, setting up a network of libraries that are still thriving, and are appreciated as a legacy from the Gaekwad rule. He was also a leader among other Indian kings in his patronage of the arts, in a time when the British largely ignored the local arts, judging them with a biased eye as inferior.

The Maharajah of Baroda, Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III, became one of most important rulers of the state, founding numerous institutions, including the Bank of Baroda on 20 July 1908. The bank, along with 13 other major commercial banks of India, was nationalized on 19 July 1969, by the Government of India; it is today the third largest bank of India. The district comprises part of Baroda district of the former Baroda State and former native States of (1) Chhota Udaipur (2) SankhedaMewas (3) PanduMewas (4) Bhadarva. Baroda was the capital of Baroda State and is situated at the bifurcation point of Bombay-Delhi and Bombay-Ahmedabad section of Western Railway.

Sankheda Mehwas estates-some of the consisting of one or two villages and with proprietors little more than husbandmen, were under seven groups, viz. the Chohan group, the Rathod group, the Gori group, the Dhima group, the Chavda group, the Solanki group, the Padhiar group and the parmar group. All these estate have been merged with the Bombay province after Independent and now from part of Baroda district. The PanduMewas estates formed five groups the chiefs of which were Rajputs, Barias of mixed Koli and Rajput decent Kolis, Patidars and Mahomedans. All these groups of estates were merged with Bombay state in 1949 and included in Baroda district.

Before the merger of Vadodara in Bombay State, there were nine Mahals and two peta Mahals in the district. After the merger, Petlad Mahal and Bhadranpeta Mahal were incorporated in the Kheda district, but the areas of Chhota Udaipur, Sankheda and Pandumehvas were merged with the Vadodara district and thus it was reconstituted to include talukas of Vadodara, Padra, Karjan, Dabhoi, Sankheda, Jabugam, Chhota Udaipur, Nasvadi, Savli, and Waghodia and a Mahal of Sinor.

In November 1956, the States were reorganized and the bigger bilingual State of Bombay was formed with Vadodara, Marathwada, Saurashtra and Kachchh regions and Vadodara district became a part of the bigger bilingual State. Lastly, the bigger bilingual Bombay State was bifurcated 1st May 1960 and separate States of Gujarat and Maharashtra were formed. Since the date, the Vadodara district became part of the Gujarat State.