Shaniwar Wada

Shaniwar Wada was begun in 1732 as the residence of the Peshwas, the hereditary prime ministers who effectively ruled the Maratha empire, and it grew into a seven-storey complex within fortified walls in the middle of Pune. A fire in 1828 destroyed everything inside the walls, so what remains is the outer fortification with its five gates, notably the Delhi Darwaza with its elephant spikes, and the stone foundations of the buildings laid out across the interior with fountain bases and platforms. Lawns cover the rest. An evening sound and light show tells the Peshwa history including the killing of the young Narayanrao in 1773.

History

Peshwa Baji Rao I, prime minister to Chhatrapati Shahu, laid the foundation of his residence on Saturday, 10 January 1730, and it was named from the Marathi shaniwar, "Saturday", and wada, a residence complex; it was finished in 1732 at a cost of Rs. 16,110. It was meant to be built entirely of stone, but after the first storey people in Satara complained to Shahu that only the Chhatrapati could raise a stone monument, so the rest was built of brick; by 1758 at least a thousand people lived in it, it remained the seat of the Peshwas until 1818, and on 27 February 1828 a fire broke out that raged for seven days, leaving only the granite ramparts, teak gateways and foundations (Wikipedia, Shaniwar Wada).

What to look for

• Delhi Darwaza - the main gate with spikes set against elephants.
• The bastioned walls - the surviving fortification circuit.
• The foundations - stone outlines of the palace across the interior.
• The sound and light show - the Peshwa story told after dark.

When to go

October to March; Pune summers are hot and the interior is open lawn with little shade. The evening show runs on most days. Mornings are quietest.

Before you go

Nothing of the palace survives above foundation level, which disappoints visitors expecting interiors. The site is small and a visit is short. The show is in Marathi with limited alternatives.

Nearby

The Kelkar Museum lies south; Sinhagad is southwest.

Key facts