From Wikitravel

Vadodara, a town in Gujarat in India, also known as Baroda, is named for the Vad (banyan) trees that flourish in the area.

[edit] Understand

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

You can get into Vadodara on a domestic flight, and it is reasonably connected to the rest of the country by domestic airlines like Indian Airlines, Kingfisher, GoIndigo, Air Deccan and Jet Airways (there are several smaller and cheaper operators, too. The nearest international airport is about 100 km away in Ahmedabad to which is served by Air India, Emirates Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

[edit] By train

At Vadodara railway station you can get on and off both superfast and premium trains like Shatabdi and Rajdhani express, as well as travel the humble passenger trains (memu/ kathana passenger etc) that will take you to the smaller towns and villages in Gujarat. It is well connected to the other parts of the country (east, south and north) by direct long distance trains and is a major stop on the Bombay-Delhi Rajdhani route.

[edit] By car

The National Highway no.8 passes through Baroda. It is connected by excellent roads. There is an express highway to Ahmedabad, and highway travel is fairly speedy by road, at least to other places in the western part of the country. Its going to be a 6 Lane road soon.

[edit] By bus

The main bus station is the STC bus station that is a stone's throw away from the railway station (Vadodara Central). Non-airconditioned buses leave from here. Buses leave every 15 minutes to Ahmedabad, taking 2 hours on the expressway and costing Rs. 68 per person (Jun 08).

[edit] By boat

[edit] Get around

Local transport consists mainly of three-wheelers called auto-rickshaws which are very cheap and easily available. Always insist on meter usage and the rate payable is 10 times the amount shown plus 1. (for example, if it shows 2.80, the fare is 28+1 = 29Rs for a 4-5km journey).

[edit][add listing] See

• Vadodara has an excellent IHC

• Vadodara has an excellent golf course and lovely university grounds that can be walked through.
• Travel to Sankheda near Baroda to see the making of lovely lacquer coated furniture.
• Travel to Champaner to be at a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see the remains of medieval mosques and a medieval city whose architecture is special because it was islamic buildings executed by HIndu and Jain workmen...a very unique style.
• Visit the Fatehsingh museum, to view several Raja Ravi Verma originals- the royal family of Baroda has a notable collection of his works.
• Check out the Tribal Academy at Tejgarh.

[edit][add listing] Do

There are quite a few sights worth taking a look at such as the maharaja's palace and the old zoo. If you're headed here plan a trip that lasts not more than three days because then you'll run out of things to do. And because of the fact that it is cosmopolitan, infrastructurally decent and well connected by rail, road and air, this is a good place to have as your 'hub' and make day trips to other places.

[edit] Learn

If you want to learn anything related to the arts, Baroda is a good place to be - you can learn classical dance, pottery, whatever ... fairly inexpensively and from good teachers.

[edit] Work

Vadodara has companies like ABB, GSFC, ONGC, IPCL (now Reliance) and Jyoti. Many other petrochemical companies like GACL and pharma cos like Alembic and Sarabhai of the city are also well known. It is also considered as good location for IT companies with coming SEZ

[edit][add listing] Buy

Camel leather and related arts of embedding pure gold and stone colors, on camel leather and hide vessels are well known here.

[edit][add listing] Eat

There are plenty of eateries in and around the city and getting good food is not a problem.

[edit] Budget

• Vishal Sandwich, near Baroda High School in Alkapuri. Try their Samosa Sandwich.

• Kalyan Restaurant, near the Railway station and the Central Bus Station. Here you can get a variety of food choices from Chinese to continental along with Chats, South Indian foods etc. Its a self service restaurant with good quality food.

• Dairy Den, Sayajigunj area. This is Baroda's first ice cream parlor that serves soft cones. You can enjoy a variety of flavors over here.

• Mahakali Sev Usal Delicious Sev Usal near Kirti Stambh, Old City,Vadodara

• Vanity - At Sayajigunj near railway station; tasty non-vegetarian food

• Decent - At Lalbaugh. Only vegetarian food.

[edit] Mid-range

• Hotel Sayaji - Offers buffet at Rs. 250 on weekdays and at Rs. 275 on Sundays. You get non-vegetarian delicacies also. For people who prefer something other that buffet, there is a rooftop restaurant.

• Zaika - Good taste. Recommended for non-vegetarian food.

• Periyaar - The only award winning restaurant of the city and the only place where you get non vegetarian food from South India.

• Goodies Cafeteria. Decent Bakery and food to suit different tastes: Baroda's take on a 'modern' eatery.
• Pooran Singh's kababs and parathas near the Cafe Coffee Day by the Birds' Circle at Race Course Road. He's an ex-Welcomgroup chef who runs his own place now...very good food!

Don't forget to try the famous 'GUjarati Thali'...it is heaven on a plate :)

• The Gujarati (veg) Thali, at the Express Hotel (First floor). At 125 Rs is delicious and exceptional value in delightful surroundings. Opens at 19.30 for dinner. Recommended by locals.

[edit] Splurge

• Peshawari, at the Welcomgroup.
• STIR, at Taj Residency, Vadodara.

[edit][add listing] Drink

It is a nice place to be but lacks a nightlife altogether because of a blanket ban on alcohol that coats Gujarat. Foreign nationals can procure alcohol after getting a permit, but this procedure is not without its headaches.

You will need a your passport plus a photocopy of your passport data page and your visa. You must ask your hotel to stamp this photocopy and write a simple statement to say that "xxx is residing at this hotel room xxx. The fee for the permit is 100 Rs. The permit is valid for one month during which time each person is limited as to the quantity you can buy - 10 units at a time (one unit is 10 large bottles of beer, or 3 bottles of wine or 1 bottle of spirits), no more than twice in six days. This should satisfy all but the heaviest of drinkers. You can use the permit at any location that sells alcohol.

The wine shop at the Hotel Kaviraj (the hotel is currently being refurbished but the wine shop is open on the side of the building) is open from 12.00 to 20.00 and always can issue a permit.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

Choose any of the hotels available besides the bus station.

[edit] Mid-range

• Surya Palace
• PM Regency

[edit] Splurge

• ITC Welcomgroup Hotel
• Taj Residency Vadodara
• Express Hotel.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

It is reasonably safe at night but white women should preferably be chaperoned or travel by car.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

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