Aikyam 2026
Rasa & Realism
Exploring cross-cultural dialogue through
art, architecture, performance, and living traditions
in Vadodara, the crossroads of East and West
Everything You Need to Know
Where
Vadodara
Gujarat
When
October 9-11, 2026
Friday through Sunday
Friday, 9th October
Dinner on arrival
Saturday, 10th October
Conversations on Art in Vadodara at FGI Auditorium
Vadodara City Tour, Nyay Mandir & Fatesingh Museum
High tea at and tour of Lukshmi Vilas Palace
Theatrical Performance inspired by Raja Ravi Varma
Royal Dinner hosted by Maharani Radhikaraje & Maharaja Samarjitsinh Gaekwad of Baroda
Sunday, 11th October
Heritage tour of Champaner, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Conversations on Design & Architecture at Rubamin, Halol
Visit to wrestling akhada
Display of traditional Gujarati textiles & handicrafts
Navratri Dinner hosted by MP Dr Hemang Joshi and graced by Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Harsh Sanghavi
Grand Garba at Lukshmi Villas Palace
Vadodara Navratri Festival at Navlakhi Ground
Monday, 12th October
Departures
What is Aikyam?
A weekend immersed in culture, art, and living history
Aikyam 2026 is a unique cultural weekend in Vadodara, celebrating the confluences between India and the world, set amidst the grandeur of Champaner-Pavagadh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the iconic Lukshmi Vilas Palace, a magnificent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture.
Aikyam 2026 draws inspiration from the timeless art of Raja Ravi Varma. He painted scenes from Indian epics, mythology, and royal life in a style that blended Indian themes with European realism. His famous images of figures such as Shakuntala, Damayanti, Lakshmi, and Saraswati helped shape how many Indians imagined beauty, devotion, and the divine. By printing his works as lithographs, he made art accessible to homes across India.
The Maharaja Fatesingh Museum is one of Gujarat’s most distinguished royal art collections. Housed within the estate of Lukshmi Vilas Palace, the museum preserves works collected and commissioned by the Baroda royal family. Its treasures include European paintings, marble and bronze sculpture, Chinese and Japanese objects, royal portraits, and one of the most important collections of Raja Ravi Varma paintings associated with princely India.
Experience the palace’s collection of works of Raja Ravi Varma, a theatrical piece inspired by his life and work, and a performance of the Navratri Grand Garba, recognised by the UN as intangible cultural heritage.