The beautiful garden of Sayaji Baug is located in the Sayaji Baug in the city of Vadodara. It stands on the Vishwamitri River in the state of Gujarat in India. The total area on which the green and lush garden is located is in 113 acres and is also referred as KamatiBaug. In the year 1879 this garden was created by Maharaja SayajiRaoGaekwad III.

This garden is referred by two names one is Sayaji Baug and the other is KamatiBaug that was built in the year 1879 by Maharaja SayajiRaoGaekwad III who devoted the garden to the people of Vadodra. This is the biggest garden in the western part of India that is spread over an area of 113 acres. The flora and fauna of the garden is rich and 98 varied species of trees can be seen in the garden.

The park complex also comprises of two museums, a zoo, a flower clock and a planetarium. The toy train ride is other amusement that attracts not only the kids but also adults to relive their childhood.

Brief History

The garden was built by Maharaja SayajiRao Gaekwad III in the year 1879 on the banks of the river Vishwamitri. The garden also comprises of Baroda Museum and the Art Gallery. The museum was created by the Gaekwads during the 1890 in the compound of SayaiBagh also known as KamatiBaug. The museum displays the varied in the concept of subjects like geology, history of the nature and the archeological topics. The museum has the displays from diverse communities like the prevue of the Mughal’s miniatures and Buddhists manuscripts inscribed on the leaves of Palm tree and few preaches given by the Jain gurus. The planetarium that has been dedicated to Sardar Patel who is an Indian freedom fighter is also part of the SayaiBaug.

Beauty

The history of the city of Vadodara is well known for its rich and diversified history that has seen clemency of the Maharajas and the munificence of the British. The city has been beautified by the finely camouflaged gardens, relics of the ancient India displayed in the premises of the museum, the forts and the temple that are rich in the ancient architecture and few of the modern times buildings also speaks about the glory of the city of Vadodara. The varied variety in the city thus offers something to every visitor here.

The garden landscape offers a huge range of flowers that blossom in the garden and whose fragrance and beauty can be felt all over the place. The garden also houses beautiful fountains that speak about the love for the nature by the people of the city Vadodara.

The Garden has also been synonyms like foliage, tranquil, artistic, flora and fauna and also one experiences the richness in the nature as can be experienced in any heavenly abode. The city also offers the view of serene lakes and the marvelous landscapes that is eye catching beauty for its visitors. The visitors feel relaxed and perplexed on visiting the garden. The visitors get relieved mentally on being the part of the beauty of the nature.

Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery

The Baroda museum is very much similar to Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the museum was built in 1894. The design of the museum was suggested by major Mant and R.F. Chisholm. The museum has preserved the art, figurine, mores etc.

The painting by both the Indian artist and foreign artists has been displayed in the museum. The art work by the British painters John Constable and J. M. W. Turner are displayed, the other community art forms displayed are of Tibetans, miniatures depicting the Mughal era, Akota form of bronze art that belonged to fifth century AD is also housed in the museum.

Sardar Patel Planetarium

The entrance of the SayaiBaug garden has the planetarium that runs the show for the public every evening. The show is narrated Gujarati at 4 PM, in English language at 5 PM while in Hindi at 6 PM. The duration of the show is for half-an-hour. The cost to watch the show is Rs. 7 for adults while Rs. 5 for children. As the show ends one can visit the astronomy park that displays the ancient India’s astronomical instruments.

Toy Train

The Toy train is runs on the small track that is 10 inches wide and covers a total distance of 3.5 kms and the track is laid such that it gives the entire view of the garden while its ride. The children below the age of 12 can enjoy this ride. This facility was laid by the Gaekwad dynasty.

The toy train was shot in the film Brahmachari in the song “ChakkepeChakka, ChakkepeGadi” that was sung by Shankar Jaikishan.

Zoo and Aquarium

The zoo that houses 167 species of animals that are 1103 in number was stared as the part of the SayaiBaug garden that is located on the banks of river Vishwamitri in the year 1879. The zoo also consists of Asiatic Lions that attracts many visitors to this garden. The other mammals that belong to the SayaiBaug zoo are tiger, lion, panther and deer. Different species of birds of 122 different types can be seen flocking in the vicinity of the zoo and the garden. The bird species includes the blue crown pigeon. The reptiles like alligators, ghadials are also housed in the zoo. The zoo also has a aquarium that was opened in the year 1962 that consists of 45 different kinds of fishes that also include the rare species like Oscar and koika. Aquarium also consists of Chinese “magoor” and “chicklet” species.

Floral Clock, Band Stand, Fountains and Garden

The floral clock appears to be natural that has operational machinery located beneath the ground. The clock has a diameter of 20 feet that also comprises of hour, minute and seconds hand. It is one of its own kinds in the city.

How to Reach

By Road

The city is very well connected through roads that connect the other major cities in the state of Gujarat. Both state owned and luxurious buses that are owned by the private operators ply to the city from the nearby cities and states. The state transport intercity buses ply from Ahmedabad to Vadodara which takes a time of approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Nearest Railway Station

The Western rail line connects the city of Vadodara and the city has its own railway station that is well-connected to the rail lines of the other states in country.

Nearest Air Port

The domestic airport in Vadodara city is well connected to the airports in the other part of country.

Best Time to Visit

The temperature during summers and winters is up to 37 degree Celsius and 15 degree Celsius respectively. The most promising weather in the months from October to March is considered most favorable for the visitors.

Timing

The garden can be visited any time between 10 AM to 5 PM in all days of the week except Thursday. The show in the planetarium begins 5 PM and show is narrated in the following languages Hindi, English and Gujarati.