Kirti Mandir

Getting there

• By air

  Vadodara airport (BDQ) has domestic flights to major Indian cities.

• By train

  Vadodara is a major junction on the Western Railway, which connects Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad.

• By road

  The city lies on National Highway 8, 112 km from Ahmedabad and 420 km from Mumbai.

Why devotees come here

Kirti Mandir in Vadodara, Gujarat, is the royal mausoleum of the Gaekwad dynasty. It is one of the city's notable buildings, with a carved central tower and murals by Nandalal Bose inside. Its interiors are marble-finished, and the building sits in the heart of the city.

Kirti Mandir is the royal mausoleum of the Gaekwad dynasty. It is described as a cluster of temples dedicated to Shiva, so it is both a royal memorial and a Shiva shrine. Some sources call it the cenotaph of the Gaekwads in Vadodara. It is one of the most stunning but understated buildings in Baroda.

It is said that Maharaja Sayajirao built it in memory of deceased members of the royal family. It was built in 1936 to honour the silver jubilee celebration of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III.

The building is E-shaped, with balconies, terraces, domes and a carved central shikhara 35 metres high. The building stands in the heart of Vadodara city, near the Vishwamitra Bridge. The interiors are finished in marble and decorated with carved murals. Nandalal Bose painted murals on themes such as Gangavataran, the life of Meera, the Mahabharat battle and Natir Poojan.

Tips for your visit

• Inside, look for the murals by Nandalal Bose on Gangavataran, the life of Meera, the Mahabharat battle and Natir Poojan.
• Look up at the carved central shikhara, 35 metres high, on the E-shaped building.

Questions people ask