Menawali

Menawali (मेणवली) is a village about three kilometres from Wai in Satara District and is known for a Peshwa era "Wada" (Fortified Mansion) built by Nana Fadnavis, the great Maratha statesman of the Peshwa period.

Bhavan Rao Trymbak Pant-Pratinidhi of Aundh and Raghunath Ghanshyam Mantri (Satara) bestowed the village of Menawali to Nana Fadnavis in December 1768. Nana built for himself a Wada and a ghat on the the River Krishna along with two temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Shiva.

The Wada now belongs to Nana's descendents and is still in relatively good shape. It has all the hallmarks of a typical Wada belonging to a High ranking minister of the Peshwa Regime.

Rear entrance to Nana Phadanvis' house (Nana phadanvis wada) which is still preserved today in the same condition as when Nana built it in 1780. Location: Menawali, Wai T.

From the rear entrance of the Wada, we can directly approach the Krishna river with a breathtaking view of the ghat and temple complex. The bell house of the temple houses a massive bell captured by Bajirao’s brother Chimnaji Appa from a cathedral in the Portuguese fort at Bassein. Dated 1707, the five-alloy bell bears a bas-relief of Mary carrying the infant Jesus Christ cast into it.

Ghat and Temple Complex on the river Krishna, Menavali

The ghat and temple complex have proved to be an exotic location for Bollywood with many films notably among them Gangaajal and Swades being shot extensively here.

References

1. Menavali account http://ramrao2.tripod.com/Menavali.html