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Sinhagad Fort

Sinhagad Fort

heritage site · Maharashtra

Sinhagad ("Lion's Fort") is an ancient hill fortress about 28 km southwest of Pune, perched on the Bhuleswar range of the Sahyadri Mountains at 1,317 m above sea level.

State
Maharashtra
Type
Heritage Site

Sinhagad ("Lion's Fort") is an ancient hill fortress about 28 km southwest of Pune, perched on the Bhuleswar range of the Sahyadri Mountains at 1,317 m above sea level. It is renowned as the site of the 1670 Battle of Sinhagad, in which Maratha commander Tanaji Malusare recaptured the fort from the Mughals at the cost of his own life.

Sinhagad Fort is known for

Battle of SinhagadTanaji Malusare's sacrificeKondhana renamed Lion's Fortpopular Pune trekTreaty of Purandar history

A short history

Originally called Kondhana, the fort was held by Nag Naik until the 14th century, then passed through the Delhi Sultanate (1328), Bahmani Sultanate, Ahmadnagar Sultanate, and Bijapur Sultanate. Shivaji Maharaj gained control of it in 1647, but it was ceded to the Mughals under the 1665 Treaty of Purandar. On 4 February 1670, Maratha commander Tanaji Malusare led a night raid, scaling the fort's walls with rope ladders, and recaptured it from Mughal control, though he was killed in the battle; the fort was subsequently renamed Sinhagad ("Lion's Fort") in his honour. On 14 December 1684, Mughal forces recaptured the fort. It remained under Maratha rule until 1817, when British forces captured it during the Third Anglo-Maratha War, holding it until 1947. [Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhagad; Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sinhagad]

Why Sinhagad Fort matters

The Battle of Sinhagad and Tanaji Malusare's sacrifice are among the most celebrated episodes of Maratha valor in Indian history, commemorated with a bust of Tanaji at the fort.

When to go

Monsoon season or winter

Why visit

Pune's beloved weekend trek — history, cliff views and hot bhakri on top of a 1,400-metre fort.

How to reach

Pune is the nearest major city and rail hub; the fort is about 37.7 km from Pune city center, roughly a 1 hour 15 minute drive, with a road leading directly to the summit and a trekking route also available.

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