Shinde Chhatri, the magnificent memorial of Maratha warrior Mahadji Shinde, located in Wanavdi, has regained its past glory, albeit partially, as the first phase of restoration work was completed recently.
Mahadji was the commander-in-chief of the Maratha army under the Peshwas, and played an important role in reviving Maratha rule after the battle of Panipat.
The monument, made of black and yellow porous stone, was in a bad condition due to neglect. Rain and moisture had damaged the upper part of the structure, made of yellow stone, to turn grey. Black stone is used for the base of the building.
The completion of first phase has once again revealed the beautiful yellow shade of the building. The intricate carvings and statues made of stone have also been repaired. The restoration of the building’s interior will be carried out in the second phase.
The project is funded by Scindia Devasthan Trust (Gwalior) and carried out by Heritage Today, a firm involved in restoration of heritage structures.
The monument comprises the Lord Shiva Temple constructed by Mahadji Shinde in 1794. Soon after the construction of the temple, Mahadji passed away. His last rites were performed on the premises, where a memorial was constructed by the Scindia family of Gwalior, the descendants of Mahadji.
The temple is a blend of Rajasthani and English architecture. While the overall structure and carvings are inspired by Rajasthani art, it carries English style windows and windowpanes.
“Under the first phase of restoration, the exterior has been cleaned, the idols on the terrace wall have been repaired and the supporting terrace has been restored. The terrace floor too has been repaired and seepages repaired,” said Vinay Tripathi of Heritage Today.
He added that the soft yellow stone was cleaned using the German technology.
