Pune is an important historical city in India. Here too, within city limits there are many protected monuments. Shaniwar Wada is one of them. It was built in 1746, destroyed by fire in 1828. In spite of destruction what remains is a strong big fortress, a reminder of the historical era of rise of Maratha empire and its fight with reigning Mughal empire. Sadly, its not well-maintained due to the cultural decadence of our mindset.
It was so difficult to find this one. This protected monument is hidden admist chaotic old market lanes and bylanes. There are only handful of jews in Calcutta so its locked and opened rarely. Beautiful structure lost in the decadence of mad chaotic city.
I like walking around on old city roads. One never knows what relic from past is hiding behind modern buildings. There are protected monuments in every city of the world which bear testimony of time that has gone by.
These archaeological relics tell us about the art and architectural changes the city has witnessed through ages. Ironically, these decaying relics of the past seem more glorious than new glass facades of the modern buildings. Is past undergoing decadence or the present itself has become symbolic of decadence of human mind and art?
Mad Decadence 