Situated near the picturesque Vishwamitra Bridge of the city, the Kirti Mandir was commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in the memory of his beloved ancestors. Also known as the Temple of Fame, it was built in 1936 as part of the Maharaja’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
It is believed to have been designed by architect Talwalkar, who interned with Chisholm on his mega projects in the city. The building is designed in the Indo-Saracenic style. This style is reflected in features such as the “E” shaped planning, shikharas and jharokha windows, and finials. The ‘shikhara’ of the structure features an unusual finial representing the sun, the moon, and the earth with an undivided map of India. All these features are brought together by the tall trees framing the building and giving it a play of light and shadow during the dusks and dawns.
While this was about the exteriors, the interiors have been treated with marbles and intricately painted murals. On the first floor above the main hall, in the gallery just below the shikhara, there are beautiful murals painted on the walls by the prominent Bengali artist – Nandalal Bose. These have themes like the Mahabharata battle, Natir Pooja, Mirabai’s life, and Gangavtaran. There are also bust statues of previous Maharajas and Maharanis that have been placed in several rooms on the ground and first floor rooms.
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The golden edifice, as it looks when lighted up is the go-to place of the people of the city during the Diwali festival. For, during Diwali, a rangoli competition is organized here, where amateurs and masters alike come to exhibit their skills and keep the tradition alive!
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