Kirti Mandir

The Gaekwad dynasty mausoleum — a striking Indo-Saracenic cenotaph complex on the Vishwamitri riverbank

On the east bank of the Vishwamitri river, Kirti Mandir (Temple of Fame) is the cenotaph complex of the Gaekwad dynasty — the rulers of Baroda who shaped the city from the early 18th century. The main structure, built in 1936, is a 30-metre tower of white marble in Indo-Saracenic style, with cenotaphs for the Maharajas and their family arranged around it in a formal garden.

The complex is quieter and less visited than the Laxmi Vilas Palace, which makes it all the more interesting. The quality of the stone carving and the detail on the individual cenotaphs rewards a slow look. The location on the riverside is pleasant in the cooler part of the day. Open daily; a small entry fee applies.

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The cenotaphs are dedicated not to kings but to the royal family broadly — including Chimnabai II, the progressive Maharani who campaigned against child marriage and purdah in the early 20th century, wrote a book on Indian women's education, and played tennis at Buckingham Palace during a visit to George V. Her cenotaph here is one of the most elegant in the complex.