Vadodara: One will soon be able enjoy an evening in Vadodara with a view of the Vishwamitri flowing by with a cup of hot tea and the grand Kirti Mandir glowing in the background. Barodians are set to get a new cultural and leisure hub as royal scion Samarjitsinh Gaekwad has decided to transform the sprawling Kirti Mandir campus into a rendezvous spot for the city. “The makeover aims to blend heritage with everyday life, turning the historic precinct into a place to pause, stroll and soak in the surroundings. There are the beautiful Vishwamitri ghats behind Kirti Mandir that are of historic importance. As part of the plan, the ghats will be cleaned, revived and restored to their original character,” Gaekwad told TOI. “It will become a serene hangout zone, inviting citizens to reconnect with a space steeped in history,” Gaekwad added. He said he also plans to do a comprehensive restoration of the 90-year-old Kirti Mandir, which is one of the city’s landmarks. “There is a lot of space around Kirti Mandir that can be put to good use. It is still at the planning stage and the project will take time to materialize,” Gaekwad said. The Kirti Mandir campus has a Shiv Temple, Kubereshwar Dutt Temple and an art gallery. The open space beside the Shiv Temple is already a favourite hangout spot for youngsters. Last year, the royal family began restoration of Kirti Mandir’s upper portion after cracks surfaced on its roof and central dome due to water seepage. Commissioned by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad in 1936 — during the diamond jubilee celebration of his rule — Kirti Mandir was made in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. The E-shaped Kirti Mandir has a beautifully carved 35-metre-tall ‘Shikhar’ (central dome) which has representations of the sun, moon and earth, along with an undivided map of India. Kirti Mandir houses urns with the ashes of deceased royal family members. The building remains closed to the public except during the annual rangoli exhibition at Diwali every year.
