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DISTRICT HQ · PRINCELY TOWN · HERITAGELunawada
The district town with a princely past — Lunawada, the headquarters of Mahisagar district and the former capital of a princely state, is a quiet town of heritage buildings, a historic lake and the everyday life of eastern Gujarat.
A former princely capital
Lunawada is the administrative headquarters of Mahisagar district — a quiet town with a notable history as the former capital of the Lunawada princely state, which it remained until the integration of the princely states into India after Independence. The town retains traces of its princely past — heritage buildings, the old palace, and the layout of a settlement that was once the seat of a ruling house.
Like many of Gujarat’s former princely towns, Lunawada combines this historic character with the everyday life of a modern district headquarters: bazaars, administrative offices, and the steady rhythm of a regional centre. Lunawada is also known for its historic town lake and the surrounding water bodies, which provide a scenic and civic focus to the town.
For the visitor, Lunawada serves as the natural base for exploring Mahisagar — the dinosaur park at Balasinor, the Kadana Dam, the Mahi river country and the tribal areas of the east — and offers the quiet pleasures of a heritage district town off the main tourist routes.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Illustration — Lunawada.
Capital of Lunawada state.
Old palace and buildings.
Headquarters of Mahisagar.
A quiet heritage base.
Reasons to make the time
Heritage
Princely town.
Town lake
A civic focus.
Bazaars
Everyday life.
Gateway
Base for the district.
History
A former capital.
Quiet
Off the routes.
What to look for inside
District town
Princely heritage.
Town water
A civic focus.
How to spend an hour or two
See the heritage buildings
The princely past.
Visit the town lake
A civic focus.
Walk the bazaars
Everyday life.
Use it as a base
For the district.
Learn the history
A former capital.
Explore from here
Balasinor, Kadana, Mahi.
A heritage district town
Lunawada is the headquarters of Mahisagar district and the former capital of the Lunawada princely state — a town that retains heritage buildings, the old palace and the character of a former ruling seat, combined with the everyday life of a modern district centre.
Its historic town lake and its position as the gateway to the wider district make it the natural base for exploring Mahisagar. A working district town and heritage settlement; the base for exploring Mahisagar.
The headquarters of Mahisagar district
Former capital of the Lunawada princely state
Heritage buildings, the old palace and a town lake
The natural base for exploring the district
When to go
Cool and clear — the best season.
Mahi and Kadana in full flow.
Hot; early morning best.
⏰ Winter is most comfortable; the monsoon fills the Mahi and the Kadana reservoir.
Getting there
By Air
Vadodara (~110 km) or Ahmedabad.
By Rail
Godhra / Anand; Lunawada station.
By Road
From Godhra and Vadodara.
Know before you go
Where to eat around the ashram
Gujarati Thali
Hearty home food.
Tribal food
Maize & forest produce.
Local dairy
Fresh milk & ghee.
Local sweets
Festival treats.
What to eat
Hearty Gujarati thalis, tribal maize dishes, fresh local dairy and festive sweets.
Lunawada FAQ
What is Lunawada?
The headquarters of Mahisagar district and a former princely capital.
What is its history?
It was the capital of the Lunawada princely state.
What can I see?
Heritage buildings, the old palace and the town lake.
Why visit?
As the base for exploring the district's attractions.
What is nearby?
Balasinor's dinosaur park, Kadana Dam and the Mahi river.
Is it a tourist town?
No — a quiet heritage district town off the routes.
Related places across Gujarat
Subir Temples
Pilgrim shrines deep in the Dangs
Ankleshwar
Gujarat's storied industrial hub
Mahisagar
Lunawada & Kadana dam
Thangadh Pottery
Watch potters shape the district's famous ware
Tapi Riverfront
Calm ghats along the sacred river
Jessore Sloth Bears
Track the elusive bear in the border hills
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