Raopura Tower

Raopura Tower, also known as Maharani Chimnabai Tower, is a prominent historical landmark in Vadodara, Gujarat, built in 1896 in memory of Maharani Chimnabai I, the first wife of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III.

The tower, designed in Indo-Saracenic style, is five stories tall and features a large clock on each of its four sides on the fourth floor, with clock dials measuring six feet in diameter and minute hands three feet long. A spiral staircase leads up to a balcony at the clock level, while the topmost floor is octagonal with intricate jali work and topped by a steeple. Originally, the clocks chimed every 15 minutes, a practice later changed to hourly chimes, and the clock mechanism was upgraded from mechanical to electric.

The tower was funded by the citizens of Baroda and inaugurated by the last Nawab of Baroda. It also served as a key stop for horse-drawn trams during that era. Today, the tower is illuminated at night, remains an important symbol of Vadodara's heritage, and continues to charm visitors with its architectural beauty and historical significance.