Bhavani Mandap

Bhavani Mandap is a historic court building in the old walled centre of Kolhapur, next to the Mahalakshmi temple. It was built between 1785 and 1800 under Shivaji II, then ruler of Kolhapur, and served as the durbar of the Chhatrapatis. It also houses a shrine of Tulja Bhavani, regarded as the elder sister of Mahalakshmi.

For many years the complex held the offices of court officials and was the setting for royal ceremonies and celebrations, and parts of it show the influence of colonial-period building. A popular story tells of a tunnel running from here to Panhala Fort, about 20 km away, as an escape route for soldiers, though no proof of it has ever been found. Aarti at the shrine and festivals such as Navratri and Diwali draw crowds.