LetsGoSightseeing
★★★★4.0Wrote on 14 Nov 2023
Can give a run to any of the memorial gardens across the globe
Entry is through Gate 3. A huge parking space is available. Tickets cost INR 50 per adult (only cash accepted). The Chhatris, belonging to the Scindia family, are built over a large area. From the main gate to a second gate & then to the Chhatris themselves is quite a walk. So, ensure you visit in cooler climes. When we visited, even though the temperature wasn’t too high, the marble & sandstone floor had gotten hot. (You’ve to remove your footwear in the main Chhatris area.) We crossed an elaborate Mughal garden which had a lot of greenery and a number of fountains & waterways (which were, unfortunately, not working) to the last section which houses three cenotaphs. One cenotaph belongs to Maharaja Sir Madho Rao Scindia, another to his mother Maharani Sakhya Raje Scindia and the third to his grandson Madhavrao Scindia. They are all made in a style which is a fusion of Hindu & Islamic architecture. Maharaj Madho Rao Scindia’s cenotaph is a marble structure embellished smashingly. It has a pleasing Pietra dura work & is in excellent condition. It also has seven doors made of silver! The security guard told us that the inlay work has actual gemstones. To reach the Sakhya Raje chhatri, one has to cross a pond set in a Charbagh design. A dome in the centre of the pond has a Shivling & a Nandi. Perpendicular walkways form the grid of the pond. The Sakhya Raje chhatri was built first, by Sir Madho Rao to remember his mother. The older construction of this cenotaph is evident from its appearance. When Sir Madho Rao passed away, his chhatri was built across from his mother’s cenotaph as a symbol of a devoted son seeing his mother for eternity. In contrast to both these chhatris, the cenotaph of Madhavrao Scindia is quite small, a small pavilion with his statue erected within. The complex also has two temples & one mosque within. Lastly, while the Chhatris themselves have been protected over the years, the overall monument will become even more attractive if the fountains & waterways are made operational & the central pond is cleaned.
trip2somewhere
★★★3.0Wrote on 16 Apr 2023
a must visit if you are in Shivpuri.
A beautiful monument but the complex is not being preserved properly. but a must visit if you are in Shivpuri.
BenuBery
★★★★4.0Wrote on 7 Mar 2023
Serene representation of past glories
Classic architecture and Mughal garden layout. Could be better maintained as fountains not operational with dry leaves blowing everywhere. The facade is impressive, the Chatteris have amazing inlaid marble work in excellent condition. The entrance charges are reasonable and it is worth a visit. There is a cafe where one can have a snack but it could have have been maximised if it had a view of the Chatteris and laid out waterworks and fountains. There is parking available and a good walk to reach the actual structure.
vasundharao2017
★★★★4.0Wrote on 6 Jan 2023
Must Visit
While in Shivpuri , a visit to the Chhatris is a must visit. They are well laid out and beautiful and the inlay work on the walls is appriciable. Word of caution: you are required to take off your shoes a good distance away from the Chhtatris, so make sure you wear socks when you visit them. Walking barefeet may not be the best idea. It is indeed a pity that gardens are not maintained and the beautiful fountains do not work. The Chhatris are in a sprawling campus , and if , only if, they beautify the already well laid out gardens and pump the fountains to life, it will beat any garden in Europe. This place has immense potential , waiting to be tapped .
505saurabhs
★★★★4.0Wrote on 28 Nov 2021
A Pleasing Site worth visiting in Shivpuri.
It is a wonderful historic sight very near MPT Tourist village in Shivpuri.It is also a blend of Mughal and Malwa architecture. The Chhatris are actually samadhis of Scindias who were in the fore-father era said to reside more in Shivpuri than in Gwalior.They are grand and the Dadaji one has silver doors in it . There is Madhavrao Scindia Chhatri too. The artwork and Nakkashi (Carvings) on walls and pillars are just splendid ! The Chhatris are in a huge area which is adorned mostly by big trees and Mughlai type garden plus vegetation & greenery all around. There is an entrance fee of Rs 15/- per head plus photography charges of Rs 10/- per head.Though it is open from 8 am to 8 am it is advisable to visit in such a time when you are able to roam about with naked feet on the marble and stone pathways & Galleries there as otherwise either feet might burn ( in day time in summers) or you will catch cold (if say in winters early morning time ).The pond in between imparts beauty to the complex but should be cleaned by the Trust running the Chhatris as it is very dirty.Also if you are charging a fee, then arrangements for keeping shoes & chappals of visitors safe should be made too.The site is definitely under rated. It also has a Shri Ram mandir inside.
