Sinhagad

This fort has been referred to as ‘Kundhana ’in a Persian poem named ‘Shahanama-e-Hind’, dating back to 1350 A.D. It was called ‘Kondana’ after Sage Kaundinya. The Kaundinyeshwar temple, the caves & the carvings indicate that this fort had probably been built two thousand years back.
Shivaji Maharaj’s father Shahaji, as Adilshah’s commander, was entrusted with the control of the Pune region. Shivaji Maharaj, however, refused to accept Adilshahi & initiated the arduous task of setting up Swarajya. In a clever move he gained control of Kondana in 1647. He bribed Siddi Amber, the Adilshahi Sardar who controlled the fort and captured it. But, in 1649, it had to be handed over to Adilshah for Shahaji Maharaj’s freedom. Shivaji Maharaj soon captured it back. Unfortunately it went into the hands of the Mughal army chief Mirzaraje Jaysingh, in the year 1665. In 1670, Shivaji Maharaj re-conquered this fort & then it stayed under Maratha rule till 1689. After Sambhaji’s death the Mughals gained its control. Again in 1693 the Marathas captured it. Rajaram died on Sinhagad on the 3rd of March 1700 & in 1703 Aurangjeb conquered it. In 1707, it once again went into the hands of the Marathas & remained with them till 1818, when the British conquered it. Of all the important events associated with this fort, the fort is most well known for the legendary climb by Tanaji that helped the Marathas to conquer the fort on 4th February 1672. Since then it has come to be known as Sinhagad.
This part of the Maratha history is quite interesting. Tanaji had arrived in the court to invite Shivaji Maharaj for his son’s wedding. Shivaji had escaped from Agra and reached Rajgad. Tanaji was assigned the job, and he accepted without any hesitation. He reached the base of the fort in the night. Strong people amongst them climbed the difficult rock-patch of the fort. It is said these people used an iguana or Ghorpad to locate suitable climbing sites in that dark night. There were 500 soldiers guarding the fort. The Marathas attacked with full vigour. After a fierce battle between Udebhan and Tanaji, Tanaji was killed and became a martyr. In such a situation, his brother Suryaji controlled the army and fought bravely to win the fort. This was the end of a great legend.