Nana Phadanvis Wada, Wai

 Nana Phadanvis Wada, Menavli-Wai

   

Nana Phadanvis Wada

    Menavli is a village about three kilometers from Wai in the SATARA district. The Village claim to fame is due to place (Wada) built bt NANA PHADANVIS, in 18th century MARATHA statesman and the regend of Peshwa MADHAVRAO 2.

      The Nana Phadanvis wada is large six- quadrangular, perimeter- protected Wada. Nana Phadanvis settled the village and build her residence complex here. It had a Wada (masion with an inner courtyard), a Ghat leading from the masion to the Krishna river and two temples, one dedicated to Lord Vishnu and another to Meneshwar Lord Shiva. The artictecture combination of Wada type residence, a Ghat on a water body and the temple was a typical of PESHWA ERA. This construction was completed around 1780.

   

     

     The Phadanvis wada is one of the very rare place where such a combination is preserved intact.   Originally, simple stone steps descending into a river, ghats evolved into an elaborate arrangement of terrace with separate areas for different activities, such as bathing, washing, filling water and performing religious rights. 

  Temple's were traditionally built on ghats. The Shiva Temple on the ghat has a bell which was taken from a PORTUGUESE Church inside Vasai fort by CHINAGI APPA, MARATHA general and brother of BAJIRAO 1 when he captured the fort from the PORTUGUESE in 1739.