The Nyay Mandir, Vadadora designed by Robert Chisholm

The Nyay Mandir, Vadodara indianexpress.com

Nyay mandir, Vadodara, GJshutterstock.com/

The Nyay Mandir, Vadodara (formerly Baroda) is a nice heritage structure built in Byzantine architecture by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in memory of his beloved wife Chimnabai, to whom the ruler was much devoted. Unfortunately she died young soon after her marriage. Initially it was planed to house a vegetable market and upon its completion the building was used as a town hall for lectures and musical concerts just for a short period until it was converted into an Imperial Court.Reason: The building had an astonishing stately façade. Its inauguration was by Viceroy Lord Elgin on November 30 1896. The building was named ''Maharani Chinnabai Nyay Mandir'' meaning 'Temple of Justice,'' a fitting tribute to an amiable and charitable lady. In the main hall there is a fine statue of Maharani by Italian sculptor Augusto Felici.

The Nyay Mandir, Vadodara, Gujarat. indianexpress.com

It now houses the District Court of Vadodara city in the state of Gujarat, western India. Pre-independence day it served as the Supreme Court. Many men of eminence gave electrifying speeches in the building - Aurabindo Ghosh, Dr, Ambedkar, et al. It was Pratap Singh Gaekwad, the last ruler of the scion, gave an interesting speech from the balcony before joining the Indian Union in 1947.

The Nyay Mandir, Vadodara en.wikipedia.org/

The massive building covering 6000 sq. meters with two floors and two court yard was built at a cost of rs.7 lakhs. When the work was on the final design was altered to include a court of judiciary and a town hall flanked by two court yard and rows of and court rooms on three sides. The façade of the building had an elegant look imparted by Italian ceramic tiles of ochre and brick-red color. The construction materials included brick, stones, steel and wood

Windows and entrance doors got special treatment and were inscribed by different types highlighted by white color to improve the look. One can see embellishments on top floors with small chattris (umbrella-shaped or bulbous). Stone and wrought iron jallis, pilasters, finials and tall features impart a grand look A huge clock atop the building in the front will make building majestic.

The architect of the building was none other than Robert Chisholm who pioneered the Indo-Saracenic architecture and had left a behind a maze of remarkable pieces of work in Chennai (Madras). The blending of Indo-European design had dawned on him when he was on a trip to Kerala (Travancore state). The vegetable market in Vadodara, which also houses the VMC offices, is another amazing piece by Chisholm in the Indo-Saracenic style.

With the passage of time and poor periodic upkeep many parts of the building showed sings of aging and damages, particularly the yellow Italian marble tiles on its exterior started to come off at some places. So were the plaster window grills and galleries in the interior parts. After some delay the state government of Gujarat is taking every step to bring the grand old building back to is old splendor and glory. In 2018 the building was vacated and in January 2021 it was handed over to the Roads and Buildings Department by the Law Department for repair and restoration work.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyay_Mandir

https://historyofvadodara.in/nyay-mandir/

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/nyaymandir-imperial-court-vadodara-cries-for-justice-7644719/

off by district judge Atul Vakil