Gujarat is considered to be one of the best places to visit, where culture, food, and lifestyle attract everyone. Each city in Gujarat is known for its different specialties. Today in this episode we are talking about Vadodara, the cultural capital of Gujarat, which is the third largest city in the state. Vadodara is also known as Baroda. The tourist places near Vadodara are considered to be the best destinations for leisure travelers and adventure lovers. The city will impress you with grand monuments, museums, palaces, gardens, temples, markets, and other attractions. Today we are going to tell you about some famous places in Baroda where you can enjoy a lot of fun. Let's know about these places...

Makarpura Palace
Makarpura Palace is one of the most popular places to visit in Vadodara. Makarpura Palace was built in 1870 as a summer palace for the Gaekwad royal family. Designed with an Italian touch of architecture, the ornate palace remained unused as the royal family favored the cooler climes of Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris in Vadodara to spend most of their summers. The palace currently serves as a training school for the Indian Air Force, called No. 17 Tetra School. Take a tour of this three-storied palace to see its architectural brilliance and the grand garden adorned with ivory fountains.

Laxmi Vilas Palace
One of the most luxurious palaces in India, the iconic Lakshmi Vilas Palace is the residence of the royal family of Vadodara. Built-in 1890 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the sprawling palace is the largest private residence ever built and is four times the size of Buckingham Palace in London. You need a weekend in this magnificent palace. The imposing Lakshmi Vilas Palace was built in 1890 and took almost twelve years to complete. Spread over an area of about 700 acres, it is still home to the Gaekwads, the royal family of Vadodara. It is built in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style and the palace is counted among the top tourist places to see in Vadodara.

Sayaji Garden
Sayaji Garden, located in Vadodara, is considered to be one of the largest public gardens in the western part of the country. This garden was built in 1879 by Maharaja Sayaji Rao Gaekwad. The presence of the Sardar Patel Planetarium, Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery, a toy train, a zoo, an aquarium, and more than 98 different species of trees make this garden one of the most attractive tourist places in Vadodara. The garden also has a giant floral clock with a 20 feet diameter dial.

Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery
Vadodara Museum is one of the two museums in Sayaji Bagh which attracts a lot of tourists. The museum was built in 1894 under the patronage of Maharaja Sayajirao III by Major Charles Mant and R.F. Chisolm. was done by The museum has a vast collection ranging from Mughal miniatures to sculptures, textiles, and objects from Japan, Tibet, Nepal, and Egypt. In addition, a collection of coins from around the world, various Indian musical instruments, paintings by various European masters, mostly from the private collection of the Maharaja, a skeleton of a blue whale, objects of earth science, natural history, and zoology are displayed.

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir
Among the various tourist attractions in Vadodara, BAPS Shree Swaminarayan Mandir is quite famous. The temple has an intricate design, awe-inspiring architecture, and a serene ambiance that instantly soothes your mind and soul. Shree Swaminarayan Temple has beautifully carved idols of Shree Swaminarayan, Shree Neelkanth Varni, Shree Gopalananda Swami, and Shree Aksharbrahman Gunitanand Swami. This temple holds great importance for Hindu devotees.

Sursagar Lake
Sursagar Lake situated in the city of Vadodara is surrounded by lush green trees and plants, due to which the view of this lake increases even more. The 120 feet high idol of Lord Shiva situated in the middle of Sursagar Lake adds to the beauty of this lake. This lake presents a very nice view at night. Boating etc can also be enjoyed in this lake. If Sursagar Lake is explained in a few words, then this lake is enough to spend a few moments of peace as well as relaxation in a stressful life.

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
Situated amidst the Pavagadh hills, and in the heart of Champaner city, Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is one of the best places to visit in Vadodara. This wonderful park has made the exclusive list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It has magnificent forts, citadels, and other architectural marvels such as mosques, temples, tombs, cultural heritage monuments, agricultural structures, and step-wells. The park beautifully portrays the relationship between Hindu and Muslim cultures.

Eme Temple
EME Temple also known as Dakshinamurthy Temple is managed by the Indian Army. The temple is a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is extremely beautiful because of its design, concept, and geodesic design covered with aluminum sheets. The specialty of the temple is that this temple has included the holy symbols of every religion, due to which the temple is considered a symbol of secularism.

Sun Temple
You must have seen sun temples in many places in India, one of them is the Sun Temple of Vadodara. The Sun Temple, located in the city of Borsad in Gujarat, is primarily dedicated to the Sun God. The Sun Temple of Borsad has a lot of recognition. People believe that by coming to the temple, the biggest disease can be cured. Hence, people from all over the world enthusiastically visit the Sun Temple. The history behind this temple is quite obscure, stating that the Sun Temple was built at the behest of the Lord himself.

Jarvani Falls
Located far away from the crowded area of Vadodara city, this waterfall attracts people not only from Vadodara and Gujarat but also from other regions of India. This waterfall is very important for tourists who are fond of photography and nature. People from far and wide also come to this waterfall for trekking and picnics. The natural beauty, calm atmosphere, and views here will take away all your tension for a while.