Vadodara Origin

A study on Vadodara origin reveals that the name of the city was mentioned in the charter of 812. The charter elucidates that the city existed beside the town if Ankottaka, a small town on the western bank of Vishvamitri river. According to the charter, the name of the city was Vadapadraka. The severe floods in the region in 600 AD is said to have forced the inhabitants of the city to move to the eastern side of river Vishvamitri. The residents of Vadapadraka are said to have settled in a village called Vatpatrak. It is at this site that the city of Vadodara came into existance. During the 10th century, Vadapadraka replaced Ankottaka.

A study on Vadodara origin also reveals that the city was once called Chandamavati. The city was named so after its ruler, Raja Chandan of the Dor tribe. Raja Chandan fought with the Jains. The capital was also known as Virakshetra or Virawati. The city came to be known as Vadpatraka or Wadodara. Wadodara is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Vatodar', which means 'the heart of Banyan tree'. However, it is difficult to ascertain to what lead to the change in the original name of the city. Moreover, the Englishmen referred to the town as Brodera. The name Baroda is derived from the Englishmen's version of the original name of the city. Furthermore, in 1974, the official name of Baroda was changed to Vadodara.



Last Updated on: December 05, 2025