138-YR-OLD LANDMARK!

Vadodara: The Faculty of Arts dome at M S University, which was designed by British architect R F Chisholm in 1880s, has the distinction of being Asia’s second largest masonry dome.
Although the Gol Gumbaz dome at Bijapur is Asia’s largest such structure,the dome in Baroda is far more appealing when it comes to aesthetics,

In fact, use of colours which were in the original design made MSU dome - designed on the lines of Saint Peter's dome in Vatican City - more appealing than Gol Gumbaz.

The exteriors of arts faculty dome that were once painted with natural colours like 'haldi' have vanished with the passing time but interiors of the double dome structure are still better coloured than Gol Gumbaz.

The Indo-Saracenic style architecture of this 144 feet high dome is said to have inspired the architecture of Prince of Wales Museum in Mumbai which was completed by George Wittet in 1914.

The dome itself is part of the imposing ‘E’ shaped building that had come up at the cost of Rs 8,30,150. The main dome and eight smaller domes cover 35,000 square feet area while the Premanand Hall named after Kavi Premanand which earlier used to act as a convocation hall is decorated with mural works.

Starting from philosopher Aurobindo, who had taught French at the Baroda College, several luminaries including social reformer Dattatreya Kalelkar (Kaka Kalelkar) were students of the now Faculty of Arts. Aurobindo himself had served as vice-principal of this college in 1905.