Baroda Kerala Samajam was formed during the year 1962 under the able Presidentship of Late Prof. Dr. R.K. Das at 63, Alkapuri Society, Baroda. Baroda Kerala Samajam was registered only on 17-2-1982 when the first Committee was constituted under the Presidentship of Mr. A. A. Balan and Secretary Mr. T.V. Radhakrishnan.
Our Vision & Mission
Our Vision is to see that Baroda Kerala Samajam is adjudged and accepted by not only the Malayalees of Baroda but also the Malayaless in Gujarat as a whole, as a symbol of Unity, Cooperation and help.
Our Mission is to achieve above goal by way of working hand in hand.
Recognitions
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Registered under Bombay Public Trust Act 1950 - Regn. No. F-308/Vadodara.
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Registered under Society Act. Regn. No. Gujarat/567/Vadodara.
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Registered with Federation of Gujarat Malayalee Association.
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Registered with NORKA - ROOTS, an NRK Development initiative of Government of Kerala - Regn. No. GJ/06/102
Baroda Kerala Samajam is a registered Charitable institution, which has been brought to existence at Baroda, the cultural capital of Gujarat, by the Keralites/ Malayalees residing in and around Baroda, in the year 1962. It is a non political, secular and cultural organization, structured exclusively for charitable purposes.
The priority attached to the aims and objectives of this organization undoubtedly is to up keep the sanctity of Keraleeyam and Kerala culture, within the Keralites in Baroda. It’s aspirations include undertaking activities to bring people of different communities of Kerala residing in and around Baroda under one umbrella, to participate in charitable activities, apart from the aims and objectives like upliftment of the community, encouraging artistic & literary talents amongst its members and well wishers, catering to their social and cultural needs without any differentiation of caste and creed. As charitable activities, Baroda Kerala Samajam undertook measures for; blood donation camps, providing financial assistance to needy patients, bearing funeral expenses for destitute, extending timely contributions to the victims of natural calamities, and extending help in rescue operations in case of flood, earthquake, cyclone etc. It acts as a catalyst in the cultural fusion and thus create harmony among the people of Vadodara.
Due to increasing trend of membership and escalated participation of Keralites, the organization has now risen to an enviable position having attained the status of biggest association of Keralites in Baroda. Baroda Kerala Samajam is always ready to help the Keralites within the limitation of the Samajam.
With the whole hearted help not only from Keralites but also from well-wishers BKS has its own Multipurpose Hall at Makarpura, which is one of the biggest hall in Baroda from where the Samajam is operating. Apart from this, Samajam has a registered office at Fatehgunj, Baroda. For the purpose of smooth functioning and to attend to the needs of Keralites in time, three functional zones have been created viz. Fatehgunj, Subhanpura and Makarpura which carry out the day today activities in their respective areas.
Baroda or Vadodara was the capital city of an erstwhile princely state ruled by Gaekwads.Modern Baroda is a beautiful city with its spacious parks, palaces, museums, art galleries, temple and abroad avenues. Baroda has an excellent University and its oriental institute is quite famous. Baroda has an excellent rail, road and air connections with all the major states and parts of the country.
Orientation
The city of Baroda is divided into two sections by the river Vishvamitri. The city is located on the fertile plain between the Mahi & Narmada Rivers.
History
Baroda which holds a good stand in education and culture was for a long period in the reigns of Gaekwads from 1734 to 1949.It was also ruled by various other kingdoms like Hindus, Pathans, Moghuls and Marathas. The Mughals could not control the fiery independent spirit of the Marathas and the year 1721 saw Pilaji Gaekwad seizing control of the city. The city was virtually under the Gaekwads even during the British Raj.But whatever the history of Baroda is dated back to more than two thousand years.
Festivals
All the Indian festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm in Baroda. The festival of Shivratri, is celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva. Holi is celebrated every year in February-March. As in the rest of Gujarat, the nine day festival of Navratri is celebrated with great fanfare. It ends with Dussehra, followed twenty days later by Diwali. The Kite festival is celebrated on 14th January each year to mark the end of winter. This festival has become an international event these days.
Monuments
Lakshmi Vilas Palace
The most important historical monument in the city of Baroda is the "Lakshmi Vilas Palace". This was the palace of the Gaekwads, built by Maharaja Sayaji Rao III. This palace boasts of an ornately decorated Durbar hall, which was used by the Gaekwads to watch live performances.
Kirti Mandir
The "Kirti Mandir" or the "Temple of fame". Here one would find the statues and the photographs of all royal family members.
The MuqabraAnother monument in Baroda is "The Muqabra" which is dedicated to the Moghul King Kutubudin. This is said to be one of the oldest monuments in the city.
Places of worship
Temples
EME temple
The EME temple was built by the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Corps, and is run by the Indian army. This is the most famous temple in Baroda, which is dedicated to Dhakshinamurthy, who was a reincarnation of Lord Shiva. This temple is unique in its architecture since it has been built entirely out of aluminium sheets. The temple represents the five main religions of India. The ‘kalash’ on the top of the dome symbolizes Hinduism, the ‘dome’ stands for Islam, Christianity is represented by the ‘tower,’ the golden-structure above the tower represents Buddhism and the entrance of the temple stands for Jainism. There are other smaller temples for Hanuman, Lord Ganesh a Jain temple.
ISKCON Temple, Vasna Saiyad, Vadodara
Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Vishwamitri, Vadodara
Swaminarayan Temple, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (BAPS), Atladara, Vadodara
Hanuman Temple, Ravaliya Mahudevegon, Vadodara
Ayyapp Temple, Sama, Vadodara
Jalaram Temple, Karelibaug, Vadodara
Bhimnath Temple, Sayajigunj, Vadodara
Swami Nayaran Mandir, Karelibaug, Vadodara
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Babajipuar, Vadodara
Mai Mandir, Bapunagar, Vadodara
Geeta Mandir, Wadi, Vadodara
Nageshwar Temple, Bapunagar, Vadodara
Dwarkadhish Temple, Dakbunglar, Vadodara
Gajanan Maharaj Temple, Dakbunglar, Vadodara
Nageshwar Temple, Bapunagar, Vadodara
Township Temple, Gujarat Refinery Township, Vadodara
Somnath Temple, Somnath Nagar, Makarpura, Vadodara
IPCL Temple, Vadodara
Swaminarayan Mandir, Dev Nagar, Saiyed Vasna, Vadodara
Sai Baba Mandir, Mandvi, Vadodara
Swaminarayan Mandir and Sansthan, Warasiya, Vadodara
Gajanan Maharaj Temple, Dakbunglar, Vadodara
Chitrakut Nageshwar Mahadev Temple, Suryanagar, Vadodara
Jain Temple, Bapunagar, Vadodara
Govardhan Nathji Haveli, Productivity Road, Haripura, Vadodara
Raghavendra Swami Mutt, Laxmipura, Vadodara
Ganpati Mandir, Shiyabaug, Kevdabaug, Vadodara
Bhathiji Maharaja Temple, Akota Village, Haripura, Vadodara
Bhid Bhanjan Hanuman Temple, Wadi, Vadodara
Sai Baba Temple, Tarsali, Vadodara
Shiva Mandir, Babajipura, Vadodara
Kashivishweshwar Temple Complex, Chikuwadi, Alkapuri, Vadodara
Kailashpati Mandir, Industrial Society, Nr. Shivam Society, Vadodara
Shiv Temple, Kadam Nagar, Sama, Vadodara
Hanuman Mandir, Manjalpur, Vadodara
Hanuman Temple, Haripura, Vadodara
Atmajyothi Ashram, Hari Nagar, Vadodara
Magleshwar Mahadev, Vadodara
Hanuman Mandir, Bapunagar, Vadodara
Jagannath Temple, Vadodara
Ayyappa Temple, Vasna Saiyad, Vadodara
Ganesh Temple, Alkapuri, Vadodara
Hanuman Temple, Old Padra Road, Haripura, Vadodara
Dakshineshwar Mahadev Temple, Tarsali, Vadodara
Raneshwar Temple, Tandalja, Vadodara
Parmeshwar Mahadev Temple, Gotri, Vadodara
Chandramouliswar Mahadev Temple, Gokul Nagar, Vadodara
Hanuman Temple, Bajwada, Mandvi, Vadodara
Mahadev Mandir, Bapunagar, Vadodara
Kanteshwar Mahadev, Shiyabaug, Kevdabaug, Vadodara
Kodiyar Mata Mandir, Khodiyar Nagar, Harni, Vadodara
Gayathri Mataji Temple, Nani Bapod, Vadodara
Mahoni Mata nu Mandir, Karadiya, Vadodara
Derasar, Subhanpura, Vadodara
Jain Temple, Bhavanipura Society, Nizampura, Vadodara
Digambar Jain Mandir, Adhyapak Nagar, Karelibaug, Vadodara
Dogambar Jain Mandir-Ghantivada, Choksi Bazar, Vadodara
Derasar, Nani Bapod, Vadodara
Shantinath Jain Derasar, Chhani, Vadodara
Pathar Gate Gurudwara, Old Lakkad Pitha, Babajipura, Vadodara
Gurdwara Chhani, Vadodara
Gurdwara Nanakwadi, Vadodara
Gurdwara at EME (Army) , Vadodara
Gurdwara at Airforce Makurpura, Vadodara
Parsee Agyari, Sayajilgunj, Vadodara
Mosques
The Jama Masjid mosque is one of the finest mosques in Gujarat and is situated in the town of Champaner, about 47 Kms from Baroda.
Masjid, University Road, Dakbunglarj, Vadodara
Tower Char Rasta Masjid, Mandvi, Vadodara
Lehripura Masjid, MG Road, Mandvi, Vadodara
Jama Masjid, Choksi Bazar, Vadodara
Zakaria Masjid, Babajipura, Vadodara
Hathikhana Masjid, Tulsiwadi, Vadodara
Sara Masjid, Navapura, Vadodara
Ajmeri Masjid, Tandalja Road, Vadodara
Jahangirpura Masjid, Moghul Wada, Jahangir Pura, Vadodara
Noorani Masjid, Suryanagar, Vadodara
Alavi Vohra Mosque, Moghul Wada Jahangir Pura, Vadodara, Gujarat
Churches
There are several churches in Baroda. The Centenary Methodist church is the biggest protestant church in Baroda. It is over 100 years old.
Alpha Church, 26, Patrakar Soc, Fatehgunj Main Rd, Fatehgunj, Vadodara
Bishop of Baroda, 71,Alkapuri Bishop House,Jyoti Bunglow, Vadodara
City Christ Church, Gendigate, Vadodara
Sharon Methodist Church, Nizampura, Vadodara
Marthoma Syrian Church, Marthoma Church, Rd-10, Vadsar, Vadodara
Parish Marthoma Syrian Church, Fatehgunj, Vadodara
St. Mary's Chappel, Nr Chankaya Conn At Principal MGM School, New Sama Road, Vadodara
Mar Gregorios Orthodox Syrian Church, Basil School Compound,Mukti Nagar,Tandalja Road,Alkapuri, Vadodara
St. George Chappel, St. Basil School, Maneja, Vadodara
St. Thomas Chappel, St. Mary's School, Gorwa, Vadodara
Shaeron Fellowship Church, 401/B, Samrudhi Plaza, Mk Pura Road, Vadodara
Trinity Methodist Church, Gotri Road,, Vadodara
Canan Methodist Church, A\16,Santok Nagar Society,Navayard,, Vadodara
Century Methodist Church, Fatehgunj, Vadodara
Methodist Church, Fatehgunj, -, Vadodara
Our Lady of Rosary Church, Pratap Gunj, -, Vadodara
Jivanjyot Methodist, Bajwa Chhani Road,Bajwa, Vadodara
Fategung Methodist Church, Church, Fatehgunj Main Road, Vadodara
Sharon Fellowship Church, Ashok Chamber,Fatehgunj,Nr Eagle Apartment, Vadodara
St James Church, St James Church Compound, Fatehgunj,, Vadodara
Places of Interests
Vadodara Baroda Museum and Art Gallery
Vadodara Baroda Museum and Art Gallery exhibits a rich collection of artifacts. This collection comprises of Indian sculptures, ancient manuscripts and Egyptian antiquities. In the art gallery of this museum Mughal miniatures and works of great European masters are exhibited.
Sayaji Bagh
Sayaji Bagh is a major attraction in Baroda. This is a garden, with a lot of greenery, sprawling over a 100 acres and boasts of a mini rail track and a planetarium. There is a very informative show conducted here for duration of 35 minutes.Nazarbaug Palace
This palace is known for its old classical style of architecture and it was used on ceremonial occasions by the Gaekwads.
Lakshmi Vilas Palace
This is the residence of the royal family and was built by Maharaja Sayajirao in 1890 which is known or its Indo- Saracenic style of construction. The palace also has exhibits of bronze, marble & terracotta. Its ornate Darbar Hall has an Italian mosaic floor.
Kirti Mandir
This mandir built in the style of Hindu architecture has murals by the famous Indian artist, Nandlal Bose.Kirti Mandir is a magnificent stone building with domes, terraces, balconies and a central 'shikhara'.
Makarpura Palace
This training school of the Indian Air Force was initially a palace designed in the Italianate style.
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad University
This university was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad and it is supposed to be one of the bigger universities in Western India.
Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary
This sanctuary is known for its leopards, sloth bears, sambar, wild dogs, hyena, barking deer and a variety of birds, is situated in Bharuch district.
Accommodation
Luxury Hotels
1. The Gateway Hotel,(Taj Group), Akota Gardens, Baroda - 390020 0265 6617676
2. Hotel Surya Palace, Sayajigunj, Baroda 390 005 0265 2226000 / 2363366 / 77
3. Welcome Hotel, R.C Dutt Road, Alkapuri, Vadodara, Gujarat. 0265 2330050 / 23300334. Hotel Presidency Towers, Next to National Plaza, R.C.Dutt Road, Alkapuri, Vadodara - 390005 0265 2340050
Budget Hotels
1.Ginger Vadodara (Taj Enterprise), Survey 4(2)B, Fatehgunj Camp Road, Vadodara City, Vadodara -390 002 0265 663 3333
2.Prakruti Resort. NH-8, Chhani, Vadodara- 391740 0265 2762500
3.Hotel Yuvraj, Near Central St Bus depot, Sayajigunj, Vadodara - 390002 0265 2794439/2794785
4.Hotel Surya Palace, Sayajigunj, Vadodara - 390050 0265 23623366
5.Revival Hotel, Sayaji Gardens, Near Kala Ghoda, Sayajigunj, Vadodara 309050 0265 2794896
Eat Outs
1. Havmor Restaurant - RC Dutt Road, Near Kala Ghoda Circle, Baroda, Gujarat.
2. Mac Donald's Restaurant - Old Padra Road, Baroda, Gujarat
3. Smokin Joe's - Old Padra Road, Akota, Baroda, Gujarat
4. Jai Hind Restaurant - Opposite Kumar School I, Raopura, Vadodara, Gujarat
5. Dawat Restaurant - Manjalpur Naka,Opposite Shreyas School, Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat
Shopping
You get good silver jewellery including oxidised in Raopura, Teen Darwaza and Mandvi.Other handicrafts and handspun cotton clothes are available in the local Khadi Bhandar center.However the major part of shopping in Baroda is not complete without Camel leather and related arts of embedding pure gold and stone colors, on camel leather. The textiles showcase a distinct range of designs, colors and stitches. Sarees in Vadodara display an amazing variety with inlaid Zari works, beadwork, embellished mirrors, sequins and shells as well as tie-and-dye and block-printed designs. Vadodara shopping is very satisfying if you are in search of Patola Silk sarees, Bandhnis and traditional Gagra-Cholis, Marriage costumes, Wall hangings, Embroidered, appliquéd quilts, Cradle clothes, Cloth toys, embroidered footwear, Lacquer furniture and Curios.
Getting there
By Air
Vadodara is well connected by air from Ahmedabad, Delhi, Pune, Mumbai and Daman. Most of the domestic carriers operate daily flight services to Vadodara.
By Rail
Reaching Vadodara by rail is very easy because most of the trains pass through Vadodara. The main railway junction is situated in the Western Railway that links it with Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad.
By Road
Getting to Vadodara is not only easy and convenient but fun also. A host of transport facilities and services truly make a journey to this city most unforgettable experience of life. To arrive here by road you can avail any of the state transport bus and private luxury coach services from any of the numerous towns and cities of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delh
Contact us
Regd. Office : Makarpura Office :
Sai Building, 2nd Floor GIDC Main Road
Opp. Methodist Church Opp Bundy Tubing
Fatehgunj Makarpura
Baroda - 390 002 Baroda - 390 010
Ph # +91-265-2649 965
Email : barodakeralasamajam@yahoo.com; mail@barodakeralasamajam.com
For Advertisements, Correction/Address change in the Membership Register and comments, if any can be sent to webadmin@barodakeralasamajam.com.
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