One of the most vibrant and architecturally fascinating places in Vadodara is Khanderao Market in Dandiya Bazaar area. Forex comes to life before start when farmers begin trading their agriculture produce with the vendors. As i walked into the market at 6. 00 am, the organic and fruit vendors had started United Kingdom Oriental Supermarket arranging their stalls, many of them using the light of lanterns. From a distance I could experience the perfume of roses, marigolds and gerberas coming from the flower vendors.

Forex with the palatial beauty was built by the erstwhile ruler of Baroda state, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1907 in memory of his late father Maharaja Khanderao Sayajirao Gaekwad II. It was constructed by the British architect Robert Chisholm for Rs. 500, 000.

An amazing feature of this ancient market is that it incorporates various industrial styles ranging from Maratha and Jain to Islam and Western european cultures. This charming buildings that sprouted from various cultures portrays the luxurious approach of the king towards the people of different communities in the kingdom.

The building was proficient by the king on the silver jubilee of his administration to the people of the city as a marketplace and city and county headquarters.

Subsequently, it has been an important center for whole and retail sale of vegetables and fruit, colorful flowers, household goods, items required for Hindu rituals and ceremonies and earthen wares. The market is divided into retail and a whole sale market for vegetables and fruit.

When i entered the driveway, two dome formed structures like a Hindu forehead and a time system in the center welcome me to the retail market. These domes were crowned by a kalash (an earthenware or metal pitcher which represent fertility which is usually placed on top of Hindu temples) adorned in a Victorian style. A step towards the gateway came my awareness of a beautiful toran, a free standing gateway carved on the threshold.

Inside the building, my ears phoned with amusing slogans like “Dungri shirts rupiya kilo”, onions Rs 30 per kg, and “Dhana, marcha, phudina”, coriander, chilies, mint, yelled by vendors to attract customers to their stalls. A beverage of bouquet from stalls of seasonings and vegetables like chilies, mint, garlic cloves and onions started playing with my nose, making me sneeze at times.

According to historians and buildings experts, the retail market was planned in the Arabic market style. There is a floral feature in the center encased by stalls selling produce. Some stalls are also spread out around the corners of the circle. The retail market is surrounded by an array of shops on the floor floor and city city and county corporation offices on the first. The feature in the center as well as the carved jharokhas, porch windows surrounded by grilles with floral motifs on the surrounding buildings show the presence of Islamic culture.

The shops of household goods and ritual necessities have entrances with Afghan arches. As i went closer to the shops selling colorful ritualistic items, the scent of aggarbattis, or incense branches rested me.

Small alleys passing through the stalls lead to the whole sale market on the right and the flower and earthen ware market on the left. The whole sale market in the nearby driveway was designed per the common Indian sabji mandi or organic market where the stalls are set up in rows one after the other.