Guj: વડોદરા vaḍōdarā
‘Place of Banyan Trees’ [Chandanavati, Virakshetra/Viravati, Vadapatra, Baroda] -City/District, Gujarat
From Guj: vaḍa/vaṭa, ‘banyan’; and and possibly an element related to Skt: prastha, ‘plain’, ‘level expanse’.
The name likely refers to a grove or plain of banyan trees. Alternate derivations cite vaṭa +patra (‘leaf of the banyan’), vaṭa + tara (‘tree’) or even vaṭa + udar(a), (‘belly’ or ‘heart’ of the banyan).
The British name Baroda was used until 1974.
The town was previously called Chandanavati (after its Rajput ruler Raja Chandan) and Virakshetra/Viravati (‘land of warriors’). Later on, it was known as Vadpatraka or Vadodará.
The British called it Baroda and, in 1974, the official name of the city was changed back to Vadodara. Vadodara is the third largest city in Gujarat.
It is famous for the Lakshmi Vilas Palace built by the Gaekwad dynasty (a Marathi clan who ruled Baroda state from the 18thC) in 1890 at a cost of £180,000 (£19.5m or ₹182.4 crore in today’s money).
For related place names see Indian Place names and Gujarat place names.
Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara Mocha drrd
