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I woWadas are the grand homes of elite in Maharashtra. Keep in mind the Shaniwar Wada of Peshwas in Pune! Properly, Nagpur’s previous metropolis is stuffed with many such Wadas. My introduction to town started with a tour of Chitnavis Wada in a locality referred to as Chitnavispura within the Mahal space.
It is among the few Wadas that has managed to protect the grandeur and the previous world attraction of the elite homes. I entered by means of an arched gate with picket door. A board outdoors introduced the identify and tackle of Chitnavis Wada.
Visiting Chitnavis Wada in Nagpur
Contained in the gate, I may see buildings throughout an open floor. I puzzled, if I used to be contained in the Wada or nonetheless outdoors, it was tough to say! Development on the principle door facet gave an impression of belonging to colonial period. In actual fact, the picket blind panels jogged my memory of comparable constructions in Colonial Calcutta.
The thick timber, in all probability older than these buildings, stand tall. I stepped inside what I used to be informed is the workplace. Lots of previous picket furnishings right here together with some palanquins, picket packing containers, writing desks and picket bullock carts is mendacity round. I spotted that is the principle Wada. What I noticed outdoors had been extensions that served as visitor home throughout the British interval.
A gentleman who manages the place helped me with a brochure and requested the employees to open the wada for me. I used to be not anticipating a lot besides good wooden carved pillars within the Wada. Nonetheless, surprises are by no means too far, although I did first see the carved picket pillars throughout the entrance courtyard.
Chitnavis Wada is a 3-Chowk Haveli or Wada, which implies there are 3 courtyards one after the opposite. Keep in mind we noticed related plan at Shekhawati Havelis. First Chowk is often the general public space the place the friends or enterprise associated individuals go to. Right here, this space is outer courtyard that acted because the workplace of the top of the household.
Who was Chitnavis?
Chitnavis is a designation that refers back to the chief documentation officer of a king. This wada was construct by Rakhmaji Ganesh Randive who was a Chitnavis of the Bhosle kings of Nagpur. He first got here to Nagpur in 1744 CE with Raghuji – I Bhosle. It’s believed that this Wada is about 200 years previous, based mostly on the stylistic particulars.
Deoghar Chowk of Chitnavis Wada
I stepped into the primary courtyard and was all of the sudden surrounded by colourful work throughout. The open courtyard is now lined with wooden, however the hall operating throughout had soothing mud flooring.
The partitions had work depicting the lifetime of Krishna that I might quickly uncover is the household deity. There have been scenes from epics like Mahabharata. There have been framed lithographs of Raja Ravi Varma’s work.
In a single nook of this courtyard is a stunning temple in wooden. It jogged my memory of many temples in Rajasthan. Devoted to Krishna, it’s a stunning temple. You’re completely surrounded by Krishna whenever you sit in entrance of this temple. This courtyard is rightfully referred to as Deoghar chowk or the courtyard of the deity.
Household or Fountain Chowk
A door right here took us to the following chowk that has a fountain within the center. It additionally had a hall operating throughout with mud flooring. We sat across the fountain to admire this easier but heat a part of the Chitnavis Wada. That is the household space the place individuals would sit collectively and eat. I may think about the ladies of the household gathering right here for chit chat or to soak within the solar.
Kitchen Chowk
One other door led us to the final chowk that was in all probability used extra by the employees of the household. That is the place the kitchen was once. You’ll be able to see the grinding stone and groves for pounding. There’s nicely and a Tulsi plant. Palkis in vibrant colours had been mendacity round.
An fascinating function is a small opening within the wall that’s related to the granary. You simply open the window and take the grains required for the cooking. You could possibly additionally name it a service chowk or the backend providers for operating the wada.
Murlidhar Temple
A door on the facet of this chowk results in the household temple. Sure, most huge wadas had a private temple devoted to the household deity. At Chitnavis Wada it’s the Murlidhar temple. The temple has a small garbhagriha and a shikhara in Nagar fashion. The mandapa is stuffed with picket pillars, one thing that I might see in lots of temples in Nagpur. Small temples of Hanuman and Garuda flank the temple.
Wooden Carvings at Chitnavis Wada
After admiring the interiors, we come out in entrance of the wada and admire its woodwork. A dangling nook with peacock and parrot is sort of a signature of the woodcarvers right here. There are Banana flower endings identical to Peshwa wadas in Pune.
Higher flooring hook up with the outer visitor homes. Colonial a part of the visitor homes might have been used to entertain or host Europeans. This half is related to the principle wada nevertheless it stands separate, making a partition between household space and the visitor space.
Reverse the wada, there was a charbhag fashion backyard that divides the backyard into 4 elements by means of strolling paths. The backyard is a pale model of its unique self. Nonetheless, I did discover an fascinating classic handpump there that’s nonetheless in use.
Rooftop
From the rooftop of the wada you possibly can see the interior courtyards and the Murlidhar temple. Extra importantly, you additionally get a skyline view of town surrounding it. I used to be there when the solar was simply setting and the slanting pink tiled roofs added their very own aura to it.
Over the interval the descendant house owners of Chitnavis Wada have tried so as to add trendy services like loos. Part of the wada is used as places of work for varied organizations. They do lease out the place for occasions like weddings or small capabilities. You’ll be able to see picket planks used to serve meals historically.
Journey Ideas for Chitnavis Wada in Nagpur
As of now, Chitnavis Wada is just not open to public. You might want to contact the Sh Gangadhar Rao Chitnavis Belief workplace to go to it. Architect Nitika Ramani conducts a heritage tour of the Wada and it could be finest to undergo her.
You want 1-2 hours to see, relying upon your stage of curiosity.
You’ll be able to stroll round and see many Wadas and temples within the lanes round Chitnavis Wada.
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