Baroda is known as the garden city of Gujarat. Vadodra till recently known by its anglicized name, Baroda. It is a graceful city of palaces, temples, parks and museums. It is also often called as the cultural capital of Gujarat. It is a city of powerful dynastic rulers. Baroda is the western derivative of the term, 'Vadodra' which means 'City of Banyan Trees’. It was the capital of princely Gaekwad State that gave rise to the great rulers like Maharaja Sayaji Rao III. The oil refinery, fertilizer factory and petrochemical complex here have triggered the growth of engineering, chemical and other industries in and around the city.

Baroda Museum

Founded by the Gaekwad in 1894, it has impressive collections of Art and Archaeology, Natural History, Geology and Ethnology. The adjoining Art Gallery has a great collection of European old masters: Veronese, Giordano, Zurbaran, some Flemish and Dutch school paintings; Turner and Constable, a collection of Mughal miniatures, and valuable palm-leaf manuscripts of Buddhist and Jain origin. There are miniature paintings and narrative paintings by different artists.

Kirti Mandir

This temple was built in 1936 by Maharaja Sayaji Rao to perpetuate the glorious memory of his beloved ancestors. Designed in the Hindu style, it is a magnificent stone building with domes, terraces, balconies and a central shikhara. It is an E shaped building. The well-known Indian artist, Nandlal Bose, decorates it with murals.

Tamberkar Haveli

It is famous for its wall paintings.

Laxmi Villas Palace

Designed in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, the palace built by Maharaja Sayaji Rao 111 in 1890 is till date the residence of the Royal family. He introduced the MS University, important railway links, schools, hospitals etc Its ornate Darbar Hall has an Italian mosaic floor and walls with mosaic decorations. Of eclectic architecture the palace is set in 720 acres with a fabulous darbarhall featuring huge Venetian chandeliers, domes & decorous ceiling. The Palace houses a remarkable collection of old armoury and sculptures in bronze, marble & terracotta. The palace contains a collection of old Armour as well as bronze and marble sculptures.

Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum

This is the royal collection of art treasures of old masters like Raphael, Titian and Murillo as well as modern western and Indian painting, Graeco-Roman exhibits, Chinese and Japanese art and a large collection of contemporary Indian art.

Maharaja Sayaji University

One of the most outstanding universities of India, it was established in 1949. The campus has beautiful architectural buildings. Some of the department of the university is internationally renewed.
 

Sayaji Bagh

This Park encircled by a mini railway, is a popular spot for an evening stroll. Within the park are several attractions. The most important is the Baroda Museum & Art gallery. The museums have some good Indian statue & carvings.