Restoration Of Vitthal Mandir
Aundh Pune

Project Type
Restoration of Temple and temple precinct

Recipient of AISAA Stone Architecture Commendation Award 2013

Site Area
1 acre

Status
Completed in 2008

Client
Bhale Family

The responsibility of restoration of the temple and temple precinct of the Vitthal Mandir was undertaken by the Bhale family. It was a privately funded restoration done as a social work initiative.

The temple was in a dilapidated state overgrown with weeds and littered all around. People had stopped using it regularly thus making it a derelict place used by anti social elements. Bringing it back to a sacred place which would be frequented daily by people around was high on the agenda. A Sabha mandap was planned to be added to the existing temple. The temple premises was enlarged to house a Nakshatra garden where Nakshatra trees were planted.

The existing temple was cleaned and striped off the oil paint layers that were applied over it for years. Underneath we found the original Basalt stone which was redressed at location. A lot of unused stones and a broken stone wall was found at site which was hidden under overgrown weeds. The stones from these locations were excavated/removed, named and used to create a proper entry wall and a Deepastambha at the entry. The colourfully painted Kalas was cleaned, repaired and painted white.

Post the restoration, this temple is now a place of social interaction vibrant with activity and maintained by the people themselves.