Walking through the city’s wide, tree-lined streets, the grandeur of Vadodara’s history is palpable. At the center of it all is Laxmi Vilas Palace, a sprawling estate built in 1890 by the visionary Gaekwad dynasty. Still home to the royal family, the palace’s gilded interiors and manicured grounds symbolize Vadodara’s cultural and architectural heritage. But the city, known locally as Baroda, is no museum piece. It’s alive, dynamic and transforming at a pace that few might expect from a place steeped in so much history. And with its relative affordability, it also boasts an impressive #67 spot in our overall Livability index.
Strategically positioned along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), the city is becoming a magnet for industrial and technological investment. Its chemical and engineering industries hum with activity, powered by giants like ONGC and Larsen & Toubro, and its pharmaceutical sector is emerging as a hub of innovation. The recent establishment of a Technology and Innovation Hub promises to bolster the city’s role in India’s industrial future, powered by its healthy unemployment rate (#33) and engaged labor force (#43).
The Vadodara Metro Rail Project, slated for completion by 2026, promises to make commuting smoother for its expanding population, while the Ahmedabad-Vadodara-Mumbai High-Speed Rail corridor will connect the city to India’s economic hubs in record time.