Shinde's Chhatri, Pune, Maharashtra India

Shinde’s Chhatri is an amusing name given to a building made in memorial of Shri Mahadju Shinde, a noble Maratha figure of the 18th Century. He served as the Commander-in-Chief in the Maratha army during the Peshwa rule. The building is beautifully carved and styled, and followd the Vaasthu Hara rules of craftsmanship.

This building is located in Wanowri, a spot near the city of Pune. It is open for visit on all days from 6 in the morning to 9 in the evening.   Architecturally amongst the best, just about a couple of kms from the Pune racecourse is the memorial of the great Maratha nobleman Mahadji Shinde. You can see the warrior's painted silver likeness, swathed in a flame-colored turban and elaborate shawl. At his feet are the original prayer vessels, used to propitiate the family deity each morning. A sign asks you not to open an umbrella within the Chhatri's precincts, as it would be an insult to the warrior's memory  

 Many people have read the history of how In India alien powers like Islamists and Britishers gradually set their foot and set up their supremacy. However, it was never an easy task for them. At their every move there had been tough resistance put forth by the indigenous warriors. One such great warrior was Mahadji Scindia. He has been hailed as, “the greatest man in South Asia in the 18th century” by Kini, the British writer who wrote a biography of Mahadji. He was a commander-in-chief in the Maratha army organized by Peshwas. He is credited for number of battles and he emerged out victorious, in maximum of them. He fought numerous wars against Moguls and re-captured from them number of major cities in North India and Madhya Pradesh and had re-constructed number of old temples, which had been demolished by Islamists. He also successfully defeated the forces of Nizam from south India. Even after defeat of Marathas in the third battle of Panipat at the hands of Ahmad Shah Durrani, he had succeeded in restoring the lost power of Marathas and had once again proved the supremacy of Marathas over Delhi. His last rites had been performed at the place, where now can be seen Shinde’s Chhatri. This is a 3 storied memorial, with most elaborate carvings done across the exterior of the structure added with the glittering iron made entrance gate.  Primarily, this monument only served to be the temple devoted to Lord Shiva.