Flower Sale at Khanderao Market at Vadodara. Gujarat State. India

The market was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1906–07 and named after his predecessor and adoptive father, Khanderao Gaekwad, Maharaja of Baroda (1856–1870). This market is a palatial commercial building located on Chamaraja Road in Vadodara, Gujarat, in western India. It was erected by the Maharaja as a gift to the city municipality to mark the silver jubilee of his administration. It was built at the cost of about ₹3 lakh (equivalent to ₹10.0 crore or US$1.2 million in 2023).

The market was designed in Indo-Saracenic style by English architect Robert Chisholm before his return to England. The two-storey building has two bays connected by an overhead passage with a large central dome rising to a height of 86 feet. Both bays are 70 feet long and 34 feet wide with a cloister around them. It is constructed from bricks and mortar and clad with Dhangdhra stones. The 16 stalls on the ground floor of the main building are occupied by municipal offices, while other stalls on two sides are used by 192 shops. The open courtyard between these two sides is 181 feet long and 156 feet wide and has a central junction.

The main gate takes inspiration from the gate of Dabhoi Fort, while the domes are inspired by Hindu temples and the arches are influenced by Islamic architecture. The perforated stone screens are similar to those of Agra.

The statue of Maharaja Khanderao placed in the courtyard was sculpted by Vinayak Pandurang Karmarkar and was inaugurated by Sayajirao Gaekwad III on December 23, 1935.

In the present day, the offices of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation are located here. Fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers are sold within the market premises.

The flower sale is depicted in watercolours on 250 GSM watercolour paper.

Author: Rajiv Mistry (rjmistry22@gmail.com)