MS University
Maharaja Sayajirao University is one of the most respected institutes of higher learning in western India. It is home to find work in fields such as human genome research, social work, and technology, as well as for an excellent Archaeological Department where you can find out about new findings on Harappan sites or the intriguing excavations at the Buddhist site of Dev-ni-Mori. The university is most known for being a hub of artistic activity, however, The Faculty of Arts, originally Baroda College, with its easily visible dome, provides a city landmark for the confused visitor. The Faculty of Fine Arts, continuing Sayajirao’s tradition of support for current progressive work, was established in the 1950s when modern Indian art was first evolving its own identity.
MS University Tours
It is known not just for conserving tradition, but for experimenting with change. It frequently exhibits the works of renowned artists. It also hosts a popular Navratri event. If interested, inquire at the office about entry regulations. The Faculty of Performing Arts is popularly known as Music College but also has a dance program. There is also a small theatre called PlayBox. Enjoy the art, concerts, plays, and general buzz at this place of learning.
History
The university has its origins in the Baroda College, established in 1881 by Baroda State. The main building, which houses the Faculty of Arts, was designed by Robert Fellowes Chisholm in Indo-Saracenic architecture style, in a fusion of Indian and Byzantine arches and domes in brick and polychrome stone. The main dome on the convocation hall was modelled after the great dome of the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur.
Pratap Singh Gaekwad of Baroda (1908–1968) (the last Maharaja of the erstwhile Baroda State) founded the university in 1949 on the wishes of his grandfather, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III (1863–1939), and settled the “Sir Sayajirao Diamond Jubilee and Memorial Trust” which exists to date, catering to the education and other needs of the people of the former Baroda State.
How to get there
By Road: Vadodara, 112 km from Ahmedabad and 420 km from Mumbai, is located on National Highway 8. There are various state transport (ST) buses and private luxury coaches from all over Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Ahmedabad-Vadodara intercity buses take 2 hours and run every 15 minutes. There are also several private bus companies on or near Station Road. Tickets vary according to the type of bus, but the average rate is Rs 100/- to Ahmedabad and Rs 200/- to Mumbai. You can also rent a car with a driver to explore the city and its surroundings at the Express Hotel. Rates range from Rs. 650/- without air-conditioning to Rs. 2200/- for luxury vehicles, for 8 hrs or 80 km per day.
By Rail: Vadodara, a major railway junction is located on the Western Railway, which connects Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad.
By Air: Vadodara is connected by various domestic airlines to Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Daman, and Pune.
