The document summarizes the history of Sinhgad Fort located in Pune, Maharashtra, India. It describes how the fort changed hands between the Maratha kingdom and their adversaries over several centuries. It highlights the legendary battle led by Maratha commander Tanaji Malusare that helped capture the fort from the Adil Shahi dynasty in 1670, though at the cost of Tanaji's life. The fort has since been renamed Sinhgad in honor of Tanaji's bravery and sacrifice.

1. िसंहगड Elevation 800 m (2650 ft)
Sinhgad – The Lion fort Location Pune

2. Sinhgad
This fort has been referred to as ‘Kundhana ’in a Persian poem named ‘Shahanama‐e‐Hind’, dating back to
1350 A.D. It was called ‘Kondana’ after Sage Kaundinya. The Kaundinyeshwar temple, the caves & the
carvings indicate that this fort had probably been built two thousand years back. Shivaji Maharaj’s father
Shahaji, as Adilshah’s commander, was entrusted with the control of the Pune region.
Shivaji Maharaj, however, refused to accept Adilshahi & initiated the arduous task of setting up Swarajya. In
a clever move he gained control of Kondana in 1647. He bribed Siddi Amber, the Adilshahi Sardar who
controlled the fort and captured it. But, in 1649, it had to be handed over to Adilshah for Shahaji Maharaj’s
freedom. Shivaji Maharaj soon captured it back. Unfortunately it went into the hands of the Mughal army
freedom Shivaji Maharaj soon captured it back Unfortunately it went into the hands of the Mughal army
chief Mirzaraje Jaysingh, in the year 1665. In 1670, Shivaji Maharaj re‐conquered this fort & then it stayed
under Maratha rule till 1689. After Sambhaji’s death the Mughals gained its control. Again in 1693 the
Marathas captured it. Rajaram died on Sinhagad on the 3rd of March 1700 & in 1703 Aurangjeb conquered
it. In 1707, it once again went into the hands of the Marathas & remained with them till 1818, when the
it In 1707 it once again went into the hands of the Marathas & remained with them till 1818 when the
British conquered it. Of all the important events associated with this fort, the fort is most well known for the
legendary climb by Tanaji that helped the Marathas to conquer the fort on 4th February 1672.
Since then it has come to be known as Sinhagad. This part of the Maratha history is quite interesting. Tanaji
Si h i h b k Si h d Thi f h M h hi i i i i T ji
had arrived in the court to invite Shivaji Maharaj for his son’s wedding. Shivaji had escaped from Agra and
reached Rajgad. Tanaji was assigned the job, and he accepted without any hesitation. He reached the base of
the fort in the night. Strong people amongst them climbed the difficult rock‐patch of the fort. It is said these
people used an iguana or Ghorpad t l t
l d i Gh d to locate suitable climbing sites in that dark night. There were 500
it bl li bi it i th t d k i ht Th 500
soldiers guarding the fort. The Marathas attacked with full vigour. After a fierce battle between Udebhan and
Tanaji, Tanaji was killed and became a martyr. In such a situation, his brother Suryaji controlled the army and
fought bravely to win the fort. This was the end of a great legend..

4. Lohgad, Visapur
Khadakwasala
Malhargad
Varasgaon,
Panshet
Purandar
Mahabaleshwar
Rohida, Vichitragad
Torna (Prachandgad)
Rajgad

5. Rajaram Samadhi
MTDC
Tilak Banglow
Kalavantiniacha
Buruj
TV Tower
Donagiricha
(Tanaji) Kada
Parking Area
Chorwat
Kalyan Darwaja
Zunjar Buruj

6. Parking area

7. Walk to Sinhgad

8. Pune Darwaja

9. Parking area as viewed from Khand Kada

11. Lokmnaya Tilak banglow

12. Guest House behind Tilak
Banglow

13. The Caretaker of
the Guest House

14. Dinner of Zunka, Bhakari, Bhaat ani Kanda
Anil Deepa
Akash
Sandesh

16. Storytime - Anil, Rajeev, Akash and Deepa

17. Anil with Deepa -
with earthen cups of
Curd finished during
the Dinner

18. View of
Khadakvasala Dam
from the backside
of Guest House

20. DEEPA

21. SANDESH

23. In memory of
Tanaji Malusare
who lost his hand
when fighting with
Udaybhanu

25. MTDC Guest House

32. Kalavantin Buruj

35. We were here in
earlier photograph

36. Zujar Buruj

38. Chorwat

43. Donagiricha
(Tanaji) Kada

48. Zunjar Buruj

49. Zunjar Buruj

50. Zunjar Buruj

51. Zunjar Buruj
Akash

52. Sandesh and Akash

53. ANIL & SANDESH

54. AKASH

55. ANIL

57. Kalyan Darwaja

58. TV Tower. These
can be seen from
Pune Bypass Road

59. Torna & Rajgad

60. Local villager selling Dahi
(Curd)

61. Deepa and Akash
enjoying Dahi Sakhar

62. Kalyan Darwaja

73. AKASH

75. TV Tower

81. TV Tower
Parking area

84. Dev Take (tank)

85. Samarth Sthapit Hanuman

86. Hatti (Elephant)
Take (tank)

87. Amruteshwar Mandir

88. Entrance to
Amruteshwar Mandir

89. Amruteshwar

90. The Battle of Sinhagad was a night battle that took place on February 4, 1670 in the fort of Sinhagad. It was fought between Tanaji Malusare, a
commander of Maratha king Shivaji and Udaybhan Rathod, fortkeeper under Jai Singh I and Ibrahim Adil Shah I.
Tanaji's army won the war but at the cost of Tanaji’s life. Upon hearing the news of the capture of the fort at the cost of Tanaji's life, Shivaji was
greatly aggrieved and is said to have remarked, "Gadh aala, pan Sinha gela" - "The fort is gained but the lion is lost".
The fort was renamed from Kondana to Sinhagad, in honor of Tanaji.

91. Veer Tanaji Malusare Smarak

94. Shri Kondhaneshwar Mandir

96. Kondhaneshwar
(Shiv)

98. Rajaram Maharaj Samadhi

102. The Guest House
as viewed from
Rajaram Samadhi

103. Lunch at the Guest House

104. Akash and Deepa spending afternoon painting pictures

105. Sandesh and Anil having siesta below a tree near the Guest House

108. A small water tank near Guest House

109. Bee Eater

112. MTDC

113. Khadakwasla Dam

115. Ganesh Take (tank)

116. Snake in Ganesh Tank

117. Ghodyachya Paga (Horse Stable)

120. Daru Kothar

121. Return journey

127. Un spoilt
Un hurried
Un touched
Un confined
Un expected
Un conquered
Un paralleled
Un paralleled
Un matched
Un stressed
Un stressed
Un limited
Standing as silent sentinels to history are the 350‐odd forts of Maharashtra. Beaten by
g y y
the sea waves, lashed at by the torrential Deccan rains, or scorched in the blazing sun,
stand imposing ramparts and crumbling walls , the last lingering memories of
Maharashtra's martial times. Nowhere in the country would you encounter such a
profusion of forts. And such variety. Sited on an island, or guarding the seas or among
the Sahyadri hills, whose zig‐zag walls and rounded bastions sit like a scepter and
crown amidst hills turned mauve.