10

Resorts near Vadodara For Weekend

The private residence of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III,  Laxmi Vilas Palace is one of the grandest places to visit in Vadodara. Known to be the largest private residence in the world, the Palace is four times the size of the Buckingham Palace and spreads across an area of nearly 500 acres. The Palace premises houses the Moti Bagh Palace, a Banquet Hall, and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, which contains an extraordinary collection of paintings done by Raja Ravi Verma along with many other artefacts. In the 1930's, Maharaja Pratapsinha established a golf course within the premises for the entertainment of his European guests, and the same was made open to the public in the year 1960. The architecture of the Palace was designed in the Indo-Saracenic Revival style. The Darbar Hall in the Palace has a Venetian mosaic floor and Belgian-style stained glass window. Outside the hall is an Italian style fountain courtyard. The Palace also houses several different sculptures of bronze and terracotta, making Laxmi Vilas a wonder to marvel at. Location: J N Marg, Moti Baug, Vadodara, Gujarat 390001Timings: 09.30AM-05.00PM on all days of the week.Entry fee: For palace: Rs. 200 per person.Best time to visit: October to December is the ideal time to visit the Laxmi Vilas Palace. The pleasant weather during this time makes it the best time to enjoy the palace outdoors.

Also known as Kamati Baug, Sayaji Baug or the Sayaji Garden is one of the biggest public gardens in all of India. Sprawling across a massive area of 100 acres, the garden houses nearly 98 different species of trees along with a number of flora. The Park also houses the largest floral clock in India, making it one of the most unique places to visit in Vadodara.The mammoth garden premises also houses a number of other attractions within itself, such as the Sardar Patel Planetarium, the Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery, and the Zoo. It  is also home to the Sayaji Toy Train, an attraction designed specifically for children and offering a tour of the entire park.Location: Vinoba Bhave Rd, Near Kala Ghoda, Dak Bunglaw, Sayajiganj, Vadodara, Gujarat 390005Timing: 05.00AM-11.00PM on all days of the week. The Toy Train services and zoo remains closed on Thursdays.Price: There is no entry fee required for the park itself. However, the entry fee for its individual attractions are as follows: Planetarium Prices: Adults- INR 7Children- INR 5Toy Train: Adults- INR 40Children- INR 20Zoo Admission Prices: Adults- INR 10Children- INR 5Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Sayaji Gardens would be during the cooler months between October and March, when the weather remains cool and pleasant, allowing one to enjoy the open outdoors.

Located in the heart of Vadodara's Sayaji Baug, the Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery is a two-storeyed house of wonders. The Museum and Gallery was constructed by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad for the education of his subjects and contained artefacts handpicked by the Emperor himself. The architecture of the twin structure is a beautiful blend of Maratha and European designs. The Museum and Gallery includes works detailing the history of the country from the prehistoric ages to modern times. Several European and Islamic works are also housed here. The vast collection of the Museum represents the disciplines of Osteology, Geology, Anthropology, Palaeontology, Geography, Geology and many others. At the same time, the gallery contains artworks from the Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and British schools among others. The fantastic collection housed within the Museum makes it one of the most fascinating places to visit in Vadodara.Location: University Rd, Dak Bunglaw, Sayajiganj, Vadodara, Gujarat 390018Timings: 10.30AM-05.30PM on all days of the weekEntry fee: Entry is free for children below the age of 12 years. Entry tickets are priced at Rs. 5 per person for everybody else.Best time to visit: The best time to visit the Museum and Gallery is between the months of October to March.