Bang opposite is the famed Jaagnath Budhwari temple which is thronged by visitors. Few devotees come to this temple which must be easily three centuries old, say local residents.
The narrow Jaagnath Budhwari lane in old Nagpur is dotted with old temples among which the Panchmukhi Shiv Mandir clearly appears to archaic than the rest.
On January 22, when consecration of the idol happens at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Pachmukhi Shiv Mandir, which derives its name from the rounded domes at the top, would be lit up too.
“Residents of the lane have planned to illuminate the structure with over a 1,000 lamps,” says Mahesh Sabal. The temple, which may get some brightness on the consecration day at Ayodhya, however cries for attention.
The temples, located inside the premises of Udasi Ashram, a private trust, is known to be built in the Gond period which precedes the Bhonsale era. “It’s an 18th century structure of the Gond era which precedes the Bhonsale period. The pillars of the structure need urgent repairs apart from other renovation,” says the priest, Mahant Shivanand.
The temple has been built in Bengali style and the domes somewhat resemble the Dakshinewar Temple of Kolkata. “A structure with rounded domes in temples is not very common in the region. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had issued tenders for its renovation but the contractor who bagged the deal did not take up the work at all,” the priest adds.
A grade 2 heritage structure, the NMC had issued tenders for its renovation in late 2023. Negotiations continue with the contractor who bagged the order to further lower the bid. One round of post-bid negotiations have failed. The contractor had bagged the deal for a rate at par with the reserve price. The NMC wants it to be further lowered.
Bids were called more than once after which the contract was granted for ₹38 lakh. This was at par with the reserve price quoted by the NMC. However, since most of the other NMC tenders have been bid for rates below the reserve price, the civic body wants the contractor to bring down the bid for temple renovation too.
“Contracts in general are granted for rates below the reserve price in NMC. However, since this bid was quoted at par, it was considered to negotiate with the contractor and reduce the price. It’s part of the routine tender process,” said an NMC official.
“The locals are also planning to repair an old wooden chariot lying close to the temple which would be taken out on January 22,” says Sabal. Veterans say they have seen the chariot since their childhood. It has a steering wheel to turn the wheel.