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Shinde
Chhatri located in Wanowrie, a well known place in Pune, India, is a
memorial dedicated to the 18th century military leader Mahadji Shinde
who served as the commander-in-chief of the Maratha army under the
Peshwas from 1760 to 1780. It is one of the most significant landmarks
in the city and is reminiscent of the Maratha rule.
It is a hall that marks the spot of Mahadji Shinde's cremation on 12
February 1794. The three storied memorial bestows a daunting look of
past splendour, representing the rich heritage of that era beautifully.
The regal entrance gate made out of iron shines till date. The exterior
is captivating and has intricate and detailed carvings. |
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In 1794,
the complex of the memorial only had a temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva,
which was built by Mahadji Shinde himself. He died the same year and his
last rites were performed in the premises.
In 1965, a
samadhi (memorial) was constructed outside the sanctum of the Shiva
temple, in memory of Mahadji Shinde, exactly where he was cremated.
Madhavrao Scindia was responsible for the building of the complex, along
with the memorial of Mahadji Shinde.
The Scindia family of Gwalior are the descendants of Mahadji Shinde. It
is maintained by Sindhia Devasthan Trust, Gwalior.
Architecture
The major attraction of the Shinde Chhatri of Pune is its exquisite
architecture, reflecting the style used in Rajasthan, India. The Anglo-Rajasthani
style of construction exhibits a fine blending of two different
cultures.
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The
architectural grandeur of the building is appreciable with beautiful
carvings and the building is the lively specimen of a structure
constructed following the Vaastu Hara rules. The memorial retains
its architectural design and beauty till date.
The fine carvings and idols of saints on the steeple of the Shiva
temple are made of yellow stone and the base and the sanctum
sanctorum are constructed in black stone. The Chhatri (hall) not
only has carvings and painting, but also houses a gallery in it.
Coloured window-panes used for the windows are of English style.
The
hall is beautifully adorned with paintings and photographs of
members of Scindia (Shinde) family. |
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Renovations
Unfortunately, this memorial was overlooked for several years and was in
a bad condition. The structure had gathered moss on the hall, due to the
seepage of rain water. Rain and moisture had damaged the upper storey of
the building, constructed in yellow stone, which had acquired a grayish
look. The roof was also damaged, allowing the rain water to seep into
the hall, damaging the carvings.
The beautiful structure is now getting restored to its original looks.
The moss from the delicate and porous yellow stones was cleaned using
pressure machines. The building's supporting terrace is completely
restored now. Water repellent roof was reconstructed to ensure that
water does not seep inside, in future.
The first phase of the restoration is over.
In second phase, it has been planned to replace the old English styled
window panes, with newer ones. Second phase will resume after the
monsoon season.
Future Plans
There is also a tentative plan by the Scindia Devasthan Trust to come up
with a small museum in the gallery of the hall at Shinde Chatri, after
the restoration work is completed.
Etiquette
Chhatri means umbrella in Marathi. As a sign of respect to the great
warrior, visitors are required to close their umbrellas inside the
premises, even if it is raining.
Getting There
By Air: Pune’s nearest airport located at Lohegaon,
Pune Airport, approximately
10 km from the city centre. Daily flights connect it to Mumbai and Delhi
as well as to other major cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad and
Chennai. Private cabs, auto rickshaws or city-airport shuttle buses will
cover the distance from the airport to the city centre.
By Rail: Pune is one of the most important rail junctions in the Central
railways zone of Indian Railways. Plenty of trains connect it to major
destinations in the south, north and west of the country by mail,
express and superfast trains. The Deccan Queen and Shatabdi Express are
fast commuter trains from/to Mumbai, with travelling time of
three-and-a-half hours approximately.
By Bus: Maharashtra state roadways buses and buses operated by private
companies connect the different places in the state to Pune as well as
destinations in the neighbouring states of Karnataka, Goa and Andhra
Pradesh. Most people travelling to Pune from Mumbai, Nasik or Aurangabad
prefer to do so by road as the distance between Mumbai-Pune is 170 km,
Nashik-Pune 209 km and Aurangabad-Pune is 230 km. The roads are well
maintained with conveniently located motels and service stations enroute.
Getting Around Pune
Metered taxis and auto rickshaws ply the city streets; the latter are
the most popular mode of transport in Pune as they are economical and
fast. Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) buses reach every part of the city
and the suburbs from the terminals at Swargate, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune
Station, Shivaji Nagar Station, M G Bus Stand, Pune Corporation and
Saras Baug.
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