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A regal entrance gate welcomes you with its captivating royalty.

13. Shinde Chhatri

A regal entrance gate welcomes you with its captivating royalty. As you walk into the spacious courtyard at the Shinde Chhatri in Wanowrie,your senses are assailed by the Anglo-Rajasthani architecture and its by-gone grandeur. An 18th century memorial dedicated to the military leader Mahadji Shinde,the Shinde Chhatri is an important landmark in the city. Reminiscent of the Maratha rule,the monument marks the spot of Shinde’s cremation one February day in the late 1700s.

Mahadji Shinde was a Maratha ruler of the state of Gwalior in central India. He was instrumental in resurrecting Maratha power in North India after the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761,and rose to become a trusted lieutenant of the Peshwa,leader of the Maratha Empire.

The three-storied structure,houses solely a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva,which was reportedly built by Shinde himself. The major attraction of the monument,however,is its exquisite architecture,which is a blend of cross-cultural styles,such as the Victorian architecture and the Rajasthani style. The carvings and idols of saints on the steeple of the Shiva temple are made of yellow stone and the base and the sanctum are constructed in black stone. The Chhatri,or the dome,not only has carvings and paintings,but also houses a gallery in it. The hall is adorned with paintings and photographs of members of Scindia (Shinde) family.

A regular visitor says that as a sign of respect to Shinde,the officials and patrons at the monument request the visitors not to open any umbrellas in the open-air courtyard. “It might sound funny,but that’s what everyone does. Who am I to change it,” he asks,shrugging off.

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