The history of Malharrao Gaekwad and his seven-storey palace in Kadi is a significant chapter of Gujarat’s regional heritage, blending royal ambition with deep religious devotion. Known locally as the Fort Palace or simply the palace of Malharrao, this structure was a marvel of its time, famously constructed using stones allegedly reclaimed from local stepwells or ancient “vavs”. Malharrao, a staunch devotee of the goddess Meldi Mata, established a temple dedicated to her on the seventh floor of this palace. This unusual placement served a symbolic purpose: as the guardian deity of his reign and territory, the goddess was positioned at the highest point of the seat of power to oversee and protect the region.
According to regional folklore, Malharrao’s deep bond with the deity is often referred to as “Raja Malharni Meldi” began with a divine command where the goddess “accompanied” him to Kadi to ensure justice and protection for his land. While the grand seven-storey palace eventually fell into ruin following Malharrao’s deposition in 1875, the spiritual legacy endured. In 1987, the present-day Shri Meldi Mataji Mandir was rebuilt on the original site in the Kasba/Jasalpur area of Kadi, continuing the tradition of the goddess as the “Kot-vali” (protector of the fort) for the local community.
Images in this post may have been AI-enhanced for clarity and color.
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