Bhavani Mandap is a historical building situated in the walled city center of Kolhapur in southern Maharashtra, India. It is located near the famous and mammoth Mahalaxmi Temple on the west.
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Although smaller in size than Mahalaxmi temple, Bhavani Mandap holds equal importance to the citizens and pilgrims all over the country. It is the temple of goddess Tulja Bhavani (also known as Bhavani) who according to mythology is a guest in her elder sister Mahalaxmi's city Kolhapur.
There has been a long running controversy about the Bhavani idol worshipped at Bhavani Mandap. The Kolhapur front claims it to be the real statue of Bhavani that Shivaji Maharaj used to pray to and rescued from Tuljapur during a siege by Aurangzeb. The clergies from Tuljapur do not agree and maintain that their idol is genuine.
Bhavani Mandap was an important meeting venue in yesteryears. It housed the offices of various court officials and was centre of many celebrations. It also saw a famous murder in the central courtyard. The place has the nostalgic charm and typical architecture of the British Raj bringing back memories of the rich princely state Kolhapur used to be.
At Bhavani Mandap, we can find the life size statue of Kolhapur's most loved prince Shahu Maharaj. Although, he was deemed king by the city dwellers, most of his political life was spent under the Raj. On display are stuffed animals actually hunted by Shri Shahu Maharaj including a giant bison (who has achieved some spiritual importance considering the amount of saffron spread over it), Panthers, a pair of deer and few others. It also exhibits a modest wooden throne believed to be the one used by Shivaji Maharaj on his visits to Kolhapur, strengthening the idea that He was more a man on a mission with not much regards to wordly comfort. In its present form it functions as a collective tomb of Kolhapur's Maratha royalty.
Like most other old buildings, Bhavani Mandap has its own share of rumours and myths related to it. It is said that there is an underground tunnel leading to Bhavani Mandap from Panhala, the hillside fort about 20 km away from Kolhapur built to allow an escape-route for warring Maratha soldiers. Any attempts to discover this tunnel or its discovery have not been heard.