Gujarat · India
Vadodara travel guide
Vadodara is a city in Gujarat, India, home to about 3,100,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- BDQ5 km · Vadodara International Airport
- Currency
- INRIndian rupee
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Language
- English, Hindi
About
About Vadodara
Vadodara, also known as Baroda, is a city on the banks of the Vishwamitri River in the Indian state of Gujarat. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Vadodara district.
Vadodara lies on the bank of Vishwamitri River, 141 km from Gandhinagar, the state capital. The eastern part is the old city, while the western part beyond the Railway Station is the modern part of the city. Vadodara came into prominence during the period of the Maratha confederacy, when a general of the Marathas, Pilaji Gaekwad, conquered the city from the Mughals. He and his descendants ruled the region, initially under the vassalage of the Maratha Peshwas, becoming increasingly independent as the Peshwas weakened as a power.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Vadodara
See
- Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery
- The EME temple
- Fateh Singh Museum
- Hazira Maqbara
- Khanderao Market
- Kirti Mandir
- Laxmi Vilas Palace
- Maharaja Sayajirao University
- Makarpura Palace
- Sevasi Vaav
- Surya Narayan Temple
- Tambekar Wada
Do
There are quite a few sights worth taking a look at such as the Lakshmi Vilas 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.
- Cinepolis
- The Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club
- Inox Multiplex
- Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Gruh
- S-Cube Water Park
- Sayaji Baug Garden
- Sir Sayajirao Nagargruh
- Sursagar Lake
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Vadodara to stay in
Choose any of the hotels available besides the railway station (Sayaji Gunj area), but be aware that they sometimes refuse foreign tourists because of the paperwork needed for the booking.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Vadodara
Vadodara has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 40 °C; July is the wettest, with about 407 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Vadodara: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Vadodara International Airport (BDQ), about 4.9 km from the city centre in a straight line; Sardar Vallabh Patel International Airport (AMD, 104 km) and Bhavnagar Airport (BHU, 121 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
Local transport consists mainly of city buses and three-wheelers called auto-rickshaws which are very cheap and easily available. All the drivers refuse to use meters. You can also get an autorickshaw using the Uber or Jugnoo apps, or you can use the prices from these apps to negotiate a better one. The VITCOS City Buses take you to all parts of the city, and the VITCOS Bus Stand is right opposite to the Railway Station. The buses are very comfortable and cheap.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
BDQ · Vadodara International Airport
AMD · Sardar Vallabh Patel International Airport
BHU · Bhavnagar Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Vadodara
Eat
There are plenty of eateries in and around the city and getting good food is not a problem.
Drink
Vadodara is a nice place to be but lacks a nightlife altogether because of a blanket ban on alcohol throughout Gujarat. Foreign nationals can procure alcohol after getting a permit, but this procedure is not without its headaches. You will need 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.
Stay safe
Vadodara is generally a safe city, and is heavily secured by the local cops (who may be in yellow-ochre, black, white or informal dress but in yellow-ochre socks). In the relatively unlikely event that you have any trouble, you can call 108 (emergency number).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Vadodara: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Vadodara?
Vadodara has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 40 °C; July is the wettest, with about 407 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Vadodara?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Vadodara International Airport (BDQ), about 4.9 km from the city centre in a straight line; Sardar Vallabh Patel International Airport (AMD, 104 km) and Bhavnagar Airport (BHU, 121 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Vadodara?
Indian rupee (INR).
Nearby
Destinations near Vadodara
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.