Shaniwar Wada Fort in Pune
Pune City Center
Shaniwar Wada is a historic fort in the Indian city of Pune, built in 1732 as the residence of the Peshwas, the prime ministers of the Maratha Empire. Originally made of stone and wood, the fort became a center of political power. In 1828, it was severely damaged by fire, leaving only the stone parts. Today, it is a popular landmark known for its gates and the garden inside, which replaced the burnt-out buildings.
Points of interest in front of the fortress
Right in front of the main gate of the fort, the Indian flag flies and you will also find a small Hindu temple of Batatya Maruti – Hanuman and an equestrian statue of Thorle Bajirao Peshwe, who was a prominent Indian military leader and statesman from the 18th century, who won over 40 battles and never lost. He is considered one of the greatest generals of India
Entrance gate to the fortress
Perhaps the most famous view of the entire fortress is from outside its entrance gate.
In the fortress area
As already mentioned, the entire interior of the fortress burned down, so all you can find here are the stone foundations and park landscaping.
In the fortress
The fortress itself is quite large, it is about a square of 200×200 meters. A lot of people just relax here
Walk along the walls
Perhaps the most interesting activity you can do in the fort is to walk around the entire fort along the walls. From the observation deck there are nice views of the surroundings of the fort, including several other important buildings such as the Nana Wada Palace or the Laal Mahaal.
Passages between floors
As in every fortress, the passageways and staircases are quite narrow.
The most beautiful part of the fortress
The most beautiful part of the fortress is basically the upper floor of the entrance gate, so leave it until the very end of the tour.
At the fortress
The fort is located in the historic center of Pune, so there is classic Indian hustle and bustle and plenty of options for refreshments.
