The Old Gate of Vaibhaveshwar Navagraha Temple

A short distance northwest of Shanivar Wada, along the banks of the Mutha River, there are a few old heritage structures. Out of those, there is a curious white tower decorated with artistic and cultural elements. Atop the tower is a beautiful yellow spire. This structure is a part of a larger building which is a centuries-old temple and is called Vaibhaveshwar Navagraha Temple.

Next to the temple, there is a fascinating stone gateway that stands at an angle after a short set of steps and is surrounded by the neighboring housing societies. The stone gateway displays a variety of artistically carved shapes at the top, followed by a layer of brickwork in the middle and a large rectangular gate at the bottom. Hanging from the gate are a bunch of chains that look extremely old. According to some people, the chains might have once housed the temple entrance bells. The gate was said to be the former entrance to the temple.

The stonework of the gate is most fascinating. There are decorative recesses within the gate entrance walls, while in the middle brick portion, there are stone spouts that resemble cannons. The artistically decorated top has slowly been taken over by nature in the form of beautiful vines, creepers, and ivy.

The gate is not in use currently, but it stands in the middle of the housing complex, taking the temple visitors and curious passersby back in time whilst serving as a beautiful example of the confluence and co-existence of historical and modern architecture.