The city is known for its royal past, impressive palaces, and home to Gaekwad, former royals of Baroda. Vadodara has some of Gujarat’s most important and most visited tourist attractions.
If looking for places to visit near Vadodara, from palaces and temples to historical sights and cultural potpourri, you definitely have it all here. Beautifully situated on the banks of the beautiful Vishwamitri River, Vadodara offers all of this and so much more.
Top Places to Visit near Vadodara
From the wildlife to the ancient ruins, Vadodara has got it all, which makes it one of the top holiday destinations from the whole of India. Here is a list of 12 such places to visit near Vadodara to add to your bucket list!
1. Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary
Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is a sprawling reserve of 607 square kilometers. The sanctuary is surrounded by rolling hills covered with dense deciduous forest. It is a habitat for a huge variety of flora and fauna.
Shoolpaneshwar Conservation Area will definitely surprise you if you love wildlife and nature. You can spot leopards, leopard cats, rhesus monkeys, Chinese moths, barking deer, pangolins, chitals, and many other animals in this pious grove. Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the places to visit near Vadodara.
2. Anand
Known as the ‘Dairy Capital of India,’ Anand is very popular for its milk production centers and dairy products. However, with its quiet rural village life and archaeological monuments such as Baruch Fort and Jamahi Masjid, it was a picturesque place for a family picnic near Vadodara.
If you’re looking for a place off the beaten track and want to experience the green life of a village at one of the best picnic spots near Vadodara, Anand is for quality time with your family.
3. Hathni Mata Falls
Falling from a height of 100 meters, among the most picturesque waterfalls in the area, offers visitors a spectacular sight. These mesmerizing waterfalls are covered in a lush green carpet. You will be amazed by the majestic appeal of the waterfall, which conveys the melodious sound of water falling on the rocks. As one of the most visited tourist places near Vadodara, it mkes the place a perfect spot for a picnic in scenic surroundings.
Hathni Falls got its name because the rocks at the base of the falls resemble baby elephants. Finish your trip with a visit to the Hanuman Temple inside the caves. The best time to visit Hatni Falls is during the monsoon season.
4. Dakor
Dakor is a go-to tourist attraction in Gujarat. Best known for its Krishna temple on the Gomati River, Dakor is a spiritual picnic spot near Vadodara. Built in the 18th century, the temple is a sensation of architecture and design.
The temple is revered favorably, and the history of the temple is worth knowing for all ages in your family. You can spend a full day exploring Dakor while you are here. It is undoubtedly among the best places to find a picnic spot for a day near Vadodara.
5. Nilkant Dham Poicha
Nilkhant Dham is one of his great Swamy Narayan temples in Poicha village on the coast of the Narmada river. The place is absolutely beautiful, enveloped by lush gardens. It attracts many tourists because it has various areas such as an exhibition zone, park zone, kids’ play zone, and food court.
You can have a religious experience in the universe of Nabaka Vihar and Shajananda. Experience the temple at its most spectacular in the evening when all the lights are on, and the light show begins.
Read Also: Places to Visit Near Anand
6. Kabirwad
An island on the beautiful Narmada River, Kabirwad is a tranquil island for nature lovers, and near Vadodara, it is ideal for a day picnic. It is named after the famous 18th-century poet Saint Kabir, making it one among other places to visit near Vadodara within 100 kms.
The island is home to ancient banyan trees so large that they are believed to be more than a couple of hundred years old. Kabirwad is a good choice among day-trip picnic spots near Vadodara, Gujarat, with its scenic surroundings and gorgeous greenery.
7. Jambugouda Wildlife Sanctuary
Jambgouda Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Gujarat’s most famous sanctuaries he covers an area of about 130 square kilometers. If you plan a day-trip near Vadodara, this sanctuary is robust with diverse flora and fauna. If you wish to get closer to nature, you can choose to stay overnight in the Forestry Service hut.
However, for safety reasons, hiking and wildlife viewing should only be done on forest-guided trails. Also, visit the majestic Zand Hanuman Temple within the sanctuary.
8. Champaner
Champaner and Pavagadh hills are one of Vadodara’s most popular attractions and one of the most beautiful sights near Vadodara. One of the oldest monuments is the beautiful Fort Champanere, known for its striking blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park is a site of rich historical sites, rich in architectural excellence and deep history. It is also considered to be the best places to visit near Vadodara within 100 kms.
9. Stambheshwar Mahadev
Stambheshwar Mahadev Temple in the Arabian Sea at KavuKumboi is one of India’s rare Shiva temples. Stambheshwar Mahadev is famous not only for his religious beliefs among the populace but also for his temples being completely submerged and reappearing in the sea.
This interesting spectacle takes place daily. It is popularly known to be the ‘Disappearing Shiva Temple’ in India. Here, Shivlinga’s natural Jal Abhishek is performed by Mother Earth. A trip should be planned to witness the full phenomenon of temple submersion and reappearance. Plan at least a full day and overnight trip.
10. S Cube Water Park
S Cube Water Park is among the best excursion spots near Vadodara, an adventure park that takes you through the famous Vrindavan Gardens near Vadodara. The park has both water and land rides lined up throughout the park. The park is full of thrills and adventures and has a food court that will whet the taste buds of the whole family, making it one of the most memorable picnic tourist places near Vadodara.
Read Also: Places to Visit Near Ahmedabad
11. Toranmal hill station
Toranmal is an ideal place for foreigners as well as tourists from other countries. It is an area blessed with attractive scenic spots that are said to be the pride of photographers who capture nature’s great treasures with their lenses.
The cliffs of the Tolanmar Mountains are steep and rocky, and among the many places to visit near Vadodara for couples, the Tolanmar Hill station is a must–visit for its beautiful green valleys. The primary attraction of this place is the waterfall, which enhances the natural beauty and charm of the area.
12. Riparian
Riparian is Gujarat’s newest adventure resort on the banks of the Mahisagar River near Rasulpur. Its quiet and peaceful surroundings make it one of the best places to visit near Vadodara weekend getaway away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
You can enjoy various activities such as zip-line, high-rope, low-rope, abseiling, rafting, and riverside camping. Activities such as paintball and mountain biking are also planned. Shore Resort has ten tents and twenty cabins with toilets for lodging purposes.
