Sinhagad Fort

Sinhagad stands at about 1,300 metres on a spur of the Sahyadris southwest of Pune, fortified for centuries and fought over repeatedly; its best-known episode is the night assault of 1670 in which Tanaji Malusare took it for Shivaji and was killed doing so, giving the fort its present name, the lion's fort. The walls, gates and ruined buildings survive along with Tanaji's memorial and a temple. Its real function now is as Pune's weekend hill: thousands walk up before dawn, and stalls at the top sell hot pithla bhakri, curd and jaggery to people who have just climbed.

History

The fort was first known as Kondhana, after the sage Kaundinya. In 1328 the forces of Muhammad bin Tughluq took it from the Koli chieftain Nag Naik after a siege of eight months; Shivaji gained it in 1647, it passed to the Mughals under the Treaty of Purandar in 1665, and in 1670 Shivaji's Koli subedar Tanaji Malusare retook it in the Battle of Sinhagad after scaling a steep cliff at night, a battle in which Tanaji lost his life (Wikipedia, Sinhagad).

What to look for

• The gates and walls - ruined fortifications along the spur.
• Tanaji's memorial - the monument to the 1670 assault.
• The cliff views - the Sahyadris and Pune plain from the ramparts.
• The summit stalls - pithla bhakri and curd sold to walkers.

When to go

June to February; the monsoon makes the climb green and misty but slippery and crowded. Dawn is the traditional time. Weekends bring very heavy crowds and the road jams.

Before you go

Weekend crowds are enormous, with the road to the top congested and parking impossible. The fort is largely ruined. Litter along the path is a persistent problem.

Nearby

Pune lies northeast; Khadakwasla lake is on the road.

Key facts