The
visit to Shaniwar Wada, Peshwas' fort with a Palace at Pune, in Maharashtra State, was part of “Rock Cut
Cave Temples of Maharashtra Visit”, from 28th February to 3rd March 2026.
Shaniwarwada
was one of the most magnificent mansions built for the residence of the Peshwas.
The foundation of the original residence was laid by Peshwa Bajirao-I in 1730
CE, and the construction was completed in 1732 CE, at Rs. 16110. The
successors of Bajirao I made several additions, such as fortification walls with
bastions, gates, court halls, fountains, and reservoirs. However, in 1827 CE,
fire gutted the buildings of this palace, and what now remains are its plinths
and fortification wall with five gateways and nine bastions that enclosed the
whole complex. Of the five gates, two are on the north and east, and one is on
the south. The principal gate is known as Dilli Darwaja (Delhi Gate), the other
gates being Mastani or Alibahadur Darwaja, Khidaki Darwaja, Ganesh Darwaja, and
Narayan Darwaja.
One
of the buildings in Shaniwarwada was seven-storied. Among other important
buildings in the palace were Thorlya Rayacha Diwankhana (The Court Hall of
Bajirao-I), Nachacha Diwankhana (Dancing Hall), Ganesh Mahal, and Juna Aarse
Mahal (Old Mirror Hall). The walls and exquisitely engraved arches in them were
supported by pillars shaped like the Cypress trees. The ceilings were covered
with beautiful wooden tracery, creepers, and flowers, whereas the walls were
painted with scenes from the great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The beauty
of the sixteen-petalled lotus-shaped fountain known as Hajari Karanje (Fountain
with a thousand fountain heads) can only be imagined now. Shivram Krishna, Devaji
and Kondaji Sutar, Moraji Patharwat, Bhojaraja (an expert in inlay work from
Jaipur), and Ragho (A Painter) were among those chief artists who contributed to
the planning. construction and decoration works of Shaniwarwada.
It
is a Nationally Protected Monument of the Archaeological Survey of India, declared
vide Notification No. BM-5038 dated 17.06.1919.
Archaeological
Survey of India
January
2023.
The
treaty between the East India Company and Peshwa against Tipu Sultan was
concluded in this Saniwarwada Fort Palace in 1790
Ananda Sayanar
SANIWARWADA
IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
Shaniwarwada
was the most magnificent and stately mansion that was ever built in Pune by the
Peshwas in the 18th century. The foundation stone of the building was laid by Bajirao I (1720-1740) on Saturday, January 10, 1730, being an auspicious day, and
the opening ceremony of the Palace was performed according to Hindu religious
customs on Saturday, January 22, 1732. It is stated that the total expenditure
incurred on this palace came up to Rs. 16,110. At least a thousand people used
to reside in the palace area in 1758 CE. When the Maratha Empire reached the zenith
of its power, there was always a rush of sardars, generals, princes, and
ambassadors from various inland and foreign powers in Shaniwarwada. The
building was a seven-story structure, and it is said that the spire of the
Shri Sant Dnyaneshwar Temple at Alandi could be seen from the uppermost terrace
of this building.
SHANIWARWADA
IN THE NINTEENTH CENTURY
In
June 1818, the Peshwa abdicated his Gadi or throne to Sir John Malcolm and went
to reside at Bithur near Kanpur as a political prisoner of the British
Government. The whole Palace was completely burnt by a great fire on the Feb.
27, 1827, which lasted for seven days. Only the heavy rampart, strong gateways, and buried foundations remain today, still bearing witness to the rise and fall
of a mighty Empire.
Some
of the interesting places are…
OFFICE
OF THE CHHATRAPATI AND PESHWAS
Chhatrapati
Shahu was the reigning monarch who occupied the seat occasionally. In his
absence, the Peshwas were in charge of the office and represented the King by
proxy.
PUSHKARANI
(FOUNTAIN)
This
large water body with a fountain in the center was the focus of the dining
space.
OPEN
APARTMENT AROUND THE INNER QUADRANGLE
This
space, which overlooked the courtyard with the fountain, was used for ceremonial
lunches and dinners.
GODUBAI'S
RESIDENCE
Godubai
was the wife of Balaji Vishwanath's (First Peshwa) brother, whose personal
chambers were built by Bajirao I as a part of the original scheme of Shaniwar
Wada.
WELL
AND BUNGALOW OF RAHAT
This
was one of the prime sources of water for the members of the Peshwa family, and
water was drawn with the help of the waterwheel or 'Rahat'.
RESIDENCE
OF MADHAVRAO PESHWA (I)
This
rather modest residence was built by the Fourth Peshwa Madhavrao, who had a
difficult task of resurrecting the Peshwa power after the battle of Panipat in
1761
RESIDENCE
OF SADASHIVRAOBHAU
Sadashivraobhau
was the nephew of Bajirao I and the son of Chimaji Appa (brother of Bajirao I).
He was martyred in the Battle of Panipat in 1761.
HAZARI
KARANJE (FOUNTAIN)
'Hazari
Karanje' or thousand-sprayed fountain is the special fountain constructed most
artistically and ingeniously for the pleasure and joy of the Peshwa Sawai
Madhavrao. It was an object of curiosity and wonder. It has the shape of a Lotus
flower of sixteen petals, each petal having sixteen spouts, with a circumference
of eighty ft. It is said that in India, there was not a single fountain like
this anywhere, having ninety-six jets, not even in Europe, except the
celebrated fountain 'Fontana di Trevi' at Rome. The water of this great
fountain played in a hundred patterns.
PALACE
FOR LADIES
Several
important and illustrious ladies were influential in the history of the Peshwas
and Marathas. Most of them used these chambers for their living and the strategic
moves of the Royal Family.
Since, at the peak of the Peshwa period, about a thousand people lived in the
Shaniwarwada, this large reservoir would have been a necessity
PLACE
OF DUGHAI BUNGALOW
There
is no reference or evidence available leading to the occupants of this
two-storied apartment.
LOCATION
OF THE SANIWAR WADA: CLICK HERE
Water management
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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