Architecturally inspired by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, this museum features a facade characterized by chhatris (umbrella-domed pavilions) and Gothic elements, typical of the Indo-Saracenic style that was popular during the Victorian era. The museum part of the complex features 28 galleries with collections from around the world, while the Picture Gallery, which was opened in 1921, focuses on European art.
The Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery is one of the more popular attractions in Vadodara, which means that city tours generally stop here. Many people visit the city on private day tours from Ahmedabad, about a 2-hour drive away.
The Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery is a must-see for architecture buffs and those interested in art.
Only the ground floor of the museum is wheelchair-accessible; getting to the upper galleries requires climbing a stone staircase.
Photography is not allowed in the museum.
The Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery is located in Sayaji Baug, a massive green space on the eastern side of University Road. The museum itself is about a 15-minute walk, or 5-minute drive, from Vadodara Junction, the city’s main railway station. Laxmi Vilas Palace is less than a 10-minute drive away. Taxis and auto-rickshaws are a convenient way to get to the museum if you’re not visiting as part of a city tour.
The museum is open every day of the week except for Thursdays and on some public holidays. Weekends get the most crowds, so come early in the week to avoid the masses. The museum is worth visiting year-round, but the weather in Vadodara can get hot and rainy during the summer and monsoon months (April–September). Consider a visit from October through March for the best weather.
Art fans visiting Vadodara also should check out the Maharaja Fatesingh Museum, located on the southern end of the Laxmi Villas Palace complex. Housed in what was originally a schoolhouse for royal children, this museum displays a massive collection of works owned by the former maharajas of Baroda, including European, East Asian, and Indian paintings and sculptures.
