A few months ago, we visited a small town near Pune called Menavli. Here is a wada (Maratha mansion) that belonged to the Maratha leader and statesman, Nana Phadnis.
The interior façade of the Nana Phadnis wada as seen from the Nagaarkhana
Set along the mighty Western ghats as well as the Krishna river, this quaint little town impressed me with its laid back aura and historical value.
Beautiful ceiling of the Haldi Kunku chowk
The Wada itself provides a backdrop on which one can imagine the history of 18th century, when Maratha power rose as a state rebelling against Mughals to an empire which called the same Mughals as their vassals. No wonder the century is often referred to as the Maratha century in India.
An African Baobab tree gifted to Nana Phadnis by the French. It's a good reminder that European history in India wasn't just British vs. Indian but rather a complicated political mix of British, French and local powers who often joined hands to defeat each other
The interiors of the Wada exude a minimalist luxury that for me characterises Maratha period houses. Remember that this housed the defacto leader of a pan-Indian empire.
Part office and dining hall with a earth-dung traditional flooring
One of the few remaining frescos that are said to have decorated many Maratha buildings. Very few survive today
However, for me the outside of the Wada held as much an allure as the inside. The ghat, which is a part of the Wada, forms one of the only remaining examples of the Wada-Ghat-temple Maratha architecture trifecta. Today the ghat seems stuck back in time with a relaxed pace of life along a serene Krishna river flowing along it.
The ghat, with separate areas assigned for bathing, washing clothes, worship, etc. which characterizes Maratha ghats. A Shiva and Vishnu temple along with the bell house look on in the background
The temple gives another mini history lesson, as the bell house in front of it houses a bell from the once Portuguese fort of Vasai/Bassein.
Bell taken from Bassein fort of Portuguese. The image of Virgin Mary and Jesus can be seen with the date 1707 and Portuguese words still visible on the bell
This is a great artefact to remind oneself of the battles Maratha fought with the Portuguese. It is believed that had they not done that, many parts of coastal Maharashta would have continued to remain under Portuguese control just like Goa and Daman had in our timeline.
Our dog swimming in river Krishna
Finally, the water and nature here are clear and without any visible signs of pollution. So if you have a dog, he or she might enjoy a dip in Krishna river just like ours did 😄
All pictures are mine.
Edit: As Vittal Setty pointed out in the comments, scenes from many movies are shot here including famous ones like Swades, Dabangg and Bol Bachchan.
Thanks for Reading
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