Shaniwar Wada - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 18:37, 8 December 2022
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	{{Infobox historic site		{{Infobox historic site
	\| name = Shaniwar Wada		\| name = Shaniwar Wada
	\| image = ~~Shaniwarwada gate~~.~~JPG~~		\| image = Shaniwaarwada_Pune.jpg
	\| image_size = 280px		\| image_size = 280px
	\| caption = ~~Gate of the~~ Shaniwar Wada		\| caption = Shaniwar Wada
	\| location = [[Pune]], [[India]]		\| location = [[Pune]], [[India]]
	\| built = {{start date and age\|1732}}		\| built = {{start date and age\|1732}}
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	[[File:Bajirao Peshwa Statue, Pune.jpg\|thumb\|280x280px\|An equestrian statue of [[Peshwa]] [[Bajirao I\|Baji Rao I]], Prime Minister of the [[Maratha Empire]], in the Shaniwar Wada complex. He was the first resident of the fortified palace.]]		[[File:Bajirao Peshwa Statue, Pune.jpg\|thumb\|280x280px\|An equestrian statue of [[Peshwa]] [[Bajirao I\|Baji Rao I]], Prime Minister of the [[Maratha Empire]], in the Shaniwar Wada complex. He was the first resident of the fortified palace.]]
	The Shaniwar Wada was normally		The Shaniwar Wada was normally
	the seven-story capital building of the [[Peshwa]]s of the [[Maratha Empire]]. It was supposed to be made entirely of stone but after the completion of the base floor or the first story, the people of [[Satara district\|Satara]] (the national capital) complained to the Shahu (King) saying that a stone monument can be sanctioned and built only by the ~~Shahu (King)~~ himself and not the [[Peshwa\|Peshwas]]. Following this, an official letter was written to the Peshwas stating that the remaining building had to be made of brick and not stone. Even today if you visit and see the walls carefully, they are partly made of stone and partly by bricks. The Wada was then completed and upon being attacked by the British Artillery 90 years later, all the top six stories collapsed leaving only the stone base, which was immune to the British artillery. Hence only the stone base of the Shaniwar Wada remains and can be seen even today in the older parts of [[Pune]].		the seven-story capital building of the [[Peshwa]]s of the [[Maratha Empire]]. It was supposed to be made entirely of stone but after the completion of the base floor or the first story, the people of [[Satara district\|Satara]] (the national capital) complained to the Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj(King) saying that a stone monument can be sanctioned and built only by the king himself and not the [[Peshwa\|Peshwas]]. Following this, an official letter was written to the Peshwas stating that the remaining building had to be made of brick and not stone. Even today if you visit and see the walls carefully, they are partly made of stone and partly by bricks. The Wada was then completed and upon being attacked by the British Artillery 90 years later, all the top six stories collapsed leaving only the stone base, which was immune to the British artillery. Hence only the stone base of the Shaniwar Wada remains and can be seen even today in the older parts of [[Pune]].

	By 1758, at least a thousand people lived in the fort.		By 1758, at least a thousand people lived in the fort.
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	On 27 February 1828, a great fire started inside the palace complex. The conflagration raged for seven days. Only the heavy granite ramparts, strong teak gateways and deep foundations and ruins of the buildings within the fort survived.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/travel-pune-and-its-ghosts/20150719.htm \|title=Pune and its ghosts \|date=19 July 2015 \|publisher=[[Rediff]] \| access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref>		On 27 February 1828, a great fire started inside the palace complex. The conflagration raged for seven days. Only the heavy granite ramparts, strong teak gateways and deep foundations and ruins of the buildings within the fort survived.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/travel-pune-and-its-ghosts/20150719.htm \|title=Pune and its ghosts \|date=19 July 2015 \|publisher=[[Rediff]] \| access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref>

	According to Haricharitramrutsagar, a biographical text of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, he had visited Shaniwarwada on the insistence of Bajirao II in 1799.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/pune/punes-iconic-dance-festival-held-at-shaniwarwada/articleshow/63158060.cms\|title=Pune's iconic Dance Festival held at Shaniwarwada - Times of India\|work=The Times of India\|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/punes-pride-shaniwarwada/as23046375.cms\|title=Pune's pride: Shaniwarwada\|work=Times of India Travel\|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/amenities-elude-visitors-at-iconic-shaniwarwada/articleshow/60980518.cms\|title=Amenities elude visitors at iconic Shaniwarwada - Times of India\|work=The Times of India\|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/academy-moves-forward-with-details-on-standards-of-conduct/articleshow/63831201.cms\|title=Shaniwar Wada to be recreated for 'Panipat' - Times of India\|work=The Times of India\|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/know-why-you-should-avoid-visiting-punes-shaniwarwada-fort-on-full-moon-nights/as63998053.cms\|title=Know why you should avoid visiting ~~Pune’s~~ Shaniwarwada Fort on full moon nights\|last=Sengar\|first=Resham\|work=Times of India Travel\|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref>		According to Haricharitramrutsagar, a biographical text of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, he had visited Shaniwarwada on the insistence of Bajirao II in 1799.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/pune/punes-iconic-dance-festival-held-at-shaniwarwada/articleshow/63158060.cms\|title=Pune's iconic Dance Festival held at Shaniwarwada - Times of India\|work=The Times of India\|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/punes-pride-shaniwarwada/as23046375.cms\|title=Pune's pride: Shaniwarwada\|work=Times of India Travel\|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/amenities-elude-visitors-at-iconic-shaniwarwada/articleshow/60980518.cms\|title=Amenities elude visitors at iconic Shaniwarwada - Times of India\|work=The Times of India\|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/academy-moves-forward-with-details-on-standards-of-conduct/articleshow/63831201.cms\|title=Shaniwar Wada to be recreated for 'Panipat' - Times of India\|work=The Times of India\|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/know-why-you-should-avoid-visiting-punes-shaniwarwada-fort-on-full-moon-nights/as63998053.cms\|title=Know why you should avoid visiting Pune's Shaniwarwada Fort on full moon nights\|last=Sengar\|first=Resham\|work=Times of India Travel\|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref>

	==Construction==		==Construction==
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	:The ''Delhi Darwaza'' is the main gate of the complex, and faces north towards [[Delhi]]. Infact, Shaniwar Wada is the only fort structure in India to have its main gate facing Delhi, the mideaval imperial capital of [[Mughal Empire]]. Even [[Chhatrapati Shahu]] is said to have considered the north-facing fort an indication of Baji Rao's ambitions against the Mughal Empire, and suggested that the main gate should be made of ''chhaatiiche, maatiche naahi!'' ([[Marathi language\|Marathi]] for "of the chests of brave soldiers, not made of mud").		:The ''Delhi Darwaza'' is the main gate of the complex, and faces north towards [[Delhi]]. Infact, Shaniwar Wada is the only fort structure in India to have its main gate facing Delhi, the mideaval imperial capital of [[Mughal Empire]]. Even [[Chhatrapati Shahu]] is said to have considered the north-facing fort an indication of Baji Rao's ambitions against the Mughal Empire, and suggested that the main gate should be made of ''chhaatiiche, maatiche naahi!'' ([[Marathi language\|Marathi]] for "of the chests of brave soldiers, not made of mud").

	:The strongly built ''Delhi Darwaza'' gatehouse has massive doors, large enough to admit elephants outfitted with [[howdah]]s (seating canopies). To discourage elephants charging the gates, each pane of the gate has seventy-two sharp twelve-inch steel spikes arranged in a nine by eight grid, at approximately the height of the forehead of a battle-elephant. Each pane was also fortified with steel cross members, and borders were bolted with steel bolts having sharpened cone heads. The bastions flanking the gatehouse has arrow-loops and [[machicolation]] chutes through which boiling oil could be poured onto offending raiders. The right pane has a small man-sized door for usual entries and exits, too small to allow an army to enter rapidly. Shaniwar Wada was built by a contractor from Rajasthan known as 'Kumawat' belongs to ~~Kumhar~~ Sub-caste, after completing construction they were given the name 'Naik' by the Peshwa.{{cn\|date=August 2021}}		:The strongly built ''Delhi Darwaza'' gatehouse has massive doors, large enough to admit elephants outfitted with [[howdah]]s (seating canopies). To discourage elephants charging the gates, each pane of the gate has seventy-two sharp twelve-inch steel spikes arranged in a nine by eight grid, at approximately the height of the forehead of a battle-elephant. Each pane was also fortified with steel cross members, and borders were bolted with steel bolts having sharpened cone heads. The bastions flanking the gatehouse has arrow-loops and [[machicolation]] chutes through which boiling oil could be poured onto offending raiders. The right pane has a small man-sized door for usual entries and exits, too small to allow an army to enter rapidly. Shaniwar Wada was built by a contractor from Rajasthan known as 'Kumawat' belongs to Vadar Sub-caste, after completing construction they were given the name 'Naik' by the Peshwa.{{cn\|date=August 2021}}

	:Even if the main gates were to be forced open, a charging army would need to turn sharply right, then sharply left, to pass through the gateway and into the central complex. This would provide a defending army with another chance to attack the incoming army, and to launch a counterattack to recapture the gateway.		:Even if the main gates were to be forced open, a charging army would need to turn sharply right, then sharply left, to pass through the gateway and into the central complex. This would provide a defending army with another chance to attack the incoming army, and to launch a counterattack to recapture the gateway.
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	* ''Mastani Darwaza'' (Mastani's Gate) or ''Aliibahadur Darwaja'', facing north		* ''Mastani Darwaza'' (Mastani's Gate) or ''Aliibahadur Darwaja'', facing north
	:This gate was ~~used by~~ [[Bajirao I]]'s wife [[Mastani]] while travelling out of the palace's perimeter wall.		:This gate was the entrance leading to [[Bajirao I]]'s wife [[Mastani]]'s palace and was used by her while travelling out of the palace's perimeter wall.<ref name="Deccan Herald"/>

	*''Khidki Darwaza'' (Window Gate), facing east		*''Khidki Darwaza'' (Window Gate), facing east
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	*''Ganesh Darwaza'' ([[Ganesh]] Gate), facing south-east		*''Ganesh Darwaza'' ([[Ganesh]] Gate), facing south-east
	:Named for the Ganesh Rang Mahal, which used to stand near this door. It ~~could be~~ used by ladies at the fort to visit the nearby [[Kasba Ganapati]] temple.		:Named for the Ganesh Rang Mahal, which used to stand near this door. It was used by ladies at the fort to visit the nearby [[Kasba Ganapati]] temple.<ref name="Deccan Herald">{{cite news \|last= Podder\|first= Tanushree\|date=18 March 2017\|title=In Bajirao's backyard\|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/602037/in-bajiraos-backyard.html\|newspaper=Deccan Herald}}</ref>

	*''Jambhul Darwaza'' or ''Narayan Darwaja'' (Narayan's Gate), facing south		*''Jambhul Darwaza'' or ''Narayan Darwaja'' (Narayan's Gate), facing south
	:This gate was used by concubines to enter and leave the fort. It obtained its second name after [[Narayanrao Peshwa]]'s corpse was removed from the fort for cremation through this gate.		:This gate was used by concubines to enter and leave the fort. It obtained its second name after [[Narayanrao Peshwa]]'s corpse was removed from the fort for cremation through this gate.<ref name="Deccan Herald"/>

	===Palaces===		===Palaces===
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	===The Fountain===		===The Fountain===
	The complex had an impressive [[~~lotus (plant)~~\|lotus]]-shaped fountain: the ''Hazari Karanje'' (Fountain of a thousand jets). It was constructed for the pleasure of the infant [[Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao]]. It was designed as a sixteen petal ~~[[Nelumbo nucifera\|~~lotus]]; each petal had sixteen jets with an eighty-foot arch. It was the most complicated and intricate fountain of its time.{{Citation needed\|date=May 2008}}		The complex had an impressive [[Nelumbo nucifera\|lotus]]-shaped fountain: the ''Hazari Karanje'' (Fountain of a thousand jets). It was constructed for the pleasure of the infant [[Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao]]. It was designed as a sixteen petal lotus; each petal had sixteen jets with an eighty-foot arch. It was the most complicated and intricate fountain of its time.{{Citation needed\|date=May 2008}}

	Shrimant Anandrao Rudrajirao Dhulap-More (an admiral of Maratha navy in 18th century) who visited the Shaniwarwada in 1791 described it as "very magnificent. A hundred dancers can dance here at a time. In one corner is a marble [[Ganapati]] statue and the palace is flanked by a fountain and a flower garden.".		Shrimant Anandrao Rudrajirao Dhulap-More (an admiral of Maratha navy in 18th century) who visited the Shaniwarwada in 1791 described it as "very magnificent. A hundred dancers can dance here at a time. In one corner is a marble [[Ganapati]] statue and the palace is flanked by a fountain and a flower garden.".

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{{Short description|Historical fortification in the city of Pune, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Shaniwar Wada
| image = Shaniwarwada gate.JPG
| image_size = 280px
| caption = Gate of the Shaniwar Wada
| location = [[Pune]], [[India]]
| built = {{start date and age|1732}}
| architect =
| architecture = [[Maratha Empire|Maratha imperial architecture]]
| owner = *{{flag|Maratha Empire}} (1732–1818)
*{{flag|United Kingdom}} (1818–1947)
**{{flagicon image|Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg}} [[Company Raj]] (1818–1858)
**{{flagdeco|British Raj}} [[British Raj]] (1858–1947)
*{{flagdeco|India}} [[India]] (1947–present)
| locmapin =
| map_caption =
}}
'''Shaniwar Wada''' is a historical [[fortification]] in the city of [[Pune]], [[India]].

Built in 1732,<ref name="gajrani">{{Cite book |last= Gajrani |first=S. |title=History, Religion and Culture of India |volume=III |year=2004 |page=255 |isbn=978-81-8205-062-4}}</ref> it was the great seat of the [[Peshwa]]s of the [[Maratha Empire]] until 1818. Following the rise of the Maratha Empire, the palace became the center of Indian politics in the 18th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_shaniwarwada-was-center-of-indian-politics-ninad-bedekar_1618983 |title=Shaniwarwada was centre of Indian politics: Ninad Bedekar |work=Daily News and Analysis |location=Mumbai,India |date=29 November 2011 |access-date=19 April 2012}}</ref>

The fort itself was largely destroyed in 1828 by an unexplained fire, but the surviving structures are now maintained as a tourist site.

==History==
[[File:Bajirao Peshwa Statue, Pune.jpg|thumb|280x280px|An equestrian statue of [[Peshwa]] [[Bajirao I|Baji Rao I]], Prime Minister of the [[Maratha Empire]], in the Shaniwar Wada complex. He was the first resident of the fortified palace.]]
The Shaniwar Wada was normally
the seven-story capital building of the [[Peshwa]]s of the [[Maratha Empire]]. It was supposed to be made entirely of stone but after the completion of the base floor or the first story, the people of [[Satara district|Satara]] (the national capital) complained to the Shahu (King) saying that a stone monument can be sanctioned and built only by the Shahu (King) himself and not the [[Peshwa|Peshwas]]. Following this, an official letter was written to the Peshwas stating that the remaining building had to be made of brick and not stone. Even today if you visit and see the walls carefully, they are partly made of stone and partly by bricks. The Wada was then completed and upon being attacked by the British Artillery 90 years later, all the top six stories collapsed leaving only the stone base, which was immune to the British artillery. Hence only the stone base of the Shaniwar Wada remains and can be seen even today in the older parts of [[Pune]].

By 1758, at least a thousand people lived in the fort.

In 1773, [[Narayanrao]], who was the fifth and ruling Peshwa then, was murdered by guards on orders of his uncle [[Raghunathrao]] and aunt [[Anandibai]]. A popular legend has it that Narayanrao's ghost still calls for help on full moon nights. Various people, working around the area, have allegedly reported the cries <ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/slideshow/top-10-most-haunted-places-india_39.html |title=Top 10 most haunted places in India |publisher=[[Zee News]] |author=Preeti Panwar |access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sakaaltimes.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=5090271538838429700&SectionId=5131376722999570563&SectionName=Features&NewsDate=20111031&NewsTitle=Going%20ghost%20hunting |title=Going ghost hunting |newspaper=[[Sakal]] |author=Huned Contractor |date=31 October 2011 |access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref> of "Kaka mala vachava"(Uncle, save me) by Narayanrao Peshwa after his death.

In June 1818, the [[Peshwa]], [[Bajirao II]], abdicated his ''Gaadi'' (throne) to Sir [[John Malcolm]] of the [[British East India Company]] and went into political exile at [[Bithoor]], near [[Kanpur]] in present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]], India.

On 27 February 1828, a great fire started inside the palace complex. The conflagration raged for seven days. Only the heavy granite ramparts, strong teak gateways and deep foundations and ruins of the buildings within the fort survived.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/travel-pune-and-its-ghosts/20150719.htm |title=Pune and its ghosts |date=19 July 2015 |publisher=[[Rediff]] | access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref>

According to Haricharitramrutsagar, a biographical text of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, he had visited Shaniwarwada on the insistence of Bajirao II in 1799.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/pune/punes-iconic-dance-festival-held-at-shaniwarwada/articleshow/63158060.cms|title=Pune's iconic Dance Festival held at Shaniwarwada - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/punes-pride-shaniwarwada/as23046375.cms|title=Pune's pride: Shaniwarwada|work=Times of India Travel|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/amenities-elude-visitors-at-iconic-shaniwarwada/articleshow/60980518.cms|title=Amenities elude visitors at iconic Shaniwarwada - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/academy-moves-forward-with-details-on-standards-of-conduct/articleshow/63831201.cms|title=Shaniwar Wada to be recreated for 'Panipat' - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/things-to-do/know-why-you-should-avoid-visiting-punes-shaniwarwada-fort-on-full-moon-nights/as63998053.cms|title=Know why you should avoid visiting Pune’s Shaniwarwada Fort on full moon nights|last=Sengar|first=Resham|work=Times of India Travel|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref>

==Construction==
[[File:Shaniwarwada 1860.jpg|thumb|right|The imposing walls of the Shaniwar Wada, in an 1860 photograph]]
Peshwa [[Baji Rao I]], prime minister to [[Chattrapati Shahu]], laid the ceremonial foundation of his own residence on Saturday, 10 January 1730. It was named ''Shaniwar Wada'' from the Marathi words ''Shaniwar'' (Saturday) and ''Wada'' (a general term for any residence complex). [[Teak]] was imported from the jungles of [[Junnar]], stone was brought from the nearby quarries of [[Chinchwad]], and [[Lime (mineral)]] was brought from the lime-belts of [[Jejuri]]. Shaniwarwada was completed in 1732, at a total cost of Rs. 16,110, a very large sum at that time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-23|title=288 years of Shaniwarwada: No battle cry from this historic Pune fort, only a cry for restoration|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/288-years-of-shaniwarwada-no-battle-cry-from-this-historic-pune-fort-only-a-cry-for-restoration/story-zsd8CznZJAgJbXfHxjGgxI.html|access-date=2020-11-07|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

The opening ceremony was performed according to religious customs, on 22 January 1732, another Saturday chosen for being a particularly auspicious day.

Later the Peshwas made several additions, including the fortification walls, with bastions and gates; court halls and other buildings; fountains and reservoirs. Currently, the perimeter fortification wall has five gateways and nine bastion towers, enclosing a garden complex with the foundations of the original buildings.
It is situated near the [[Mula-Mutha River]], in [[Kasba Peth, Pune|Kasba Peth]].

==Fort complex==
===Gates===
[[File:Prasad Vaidya Shaniwarwada Gate.jpg|thumb|Shaniwar Wada palace's Delhi Gate or ''Delhi Darwaza''.]]
[[File:Shaniwar Wada palace fountain.JPG|thumb|Shaniwar Wada palace fountain, the Hazari Karanje]]
[[File:Shaniwar Wada by Kshitij.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Jharokha]]s'' at the Shaniwar wada.]]
[[File:ShaniwarWada Hall.JPG|thumb|right|A hall in the first floor above ''dilli darwaja'' (Delhi Gate)]]
[[File:Ruins of Shaniwar Wada.jpg|alt=The Gardens of Shaniwar Wada are seen. The foundations of many structures as well as fountains are also present.|thumb|240x240px|Gardens of Shaniwar Wada]]
Shaniwar Wada has five gates:
* ''Delhi Darwaza''
:The ''Delhi Darwaza'' is the main gate of the complex, and faces north towards [[Delhi]]. Infact, Shaniwar Wada is the only fort structure in India to have its main gate facing Delhi, the mideaval imperial capital of [[Mughal Empire]]. Even [[Chhatrapati Shahu]] is said to have considered the north-facing fort an indication of Baji Rao's ambitions against the Mughal Empire, and suggested that the main gate should be made of ''chhaatiiche, maatiche naahi!'' ([[Marathi language|Marathi]] for "of the chests of brave soldiers, not made of mud").

:The strongly built ''Delhi Darwaza'' gatehouse has massive doors, large enough to admit elephants outfitted with [[howdah]]s (seating canopies). To discourage elephants charging the gates, each pane of the gate has seventy-two sharp twelve-inch steel spikes arranged in a nine by eight grid, at approximately the height of the forehead of a battle-elephant. Each pane was also fortified with steel cross members, and borders were bolted with steel bolts having sharpened cone heads. The bastions flanking the gatehouse has arrow-loops and [[machicolation]] chutes through which boiling oil could be poured onto offending raiders. The right pane has a small man-sized door for usual entries and exits, too small to allow an army to enter rapidly. Shaniwar Wada was built by a contractor from Rajasthan known as 'Kumawat' belongs to Kumhar Sub-caste, after completing construction they were given the name 'Naik' by the Peshwa.{{cn|date=August 2021}}

:Even if the main gates were to be forced open, a charging army would need to turn sharply right, then sharply left, to pass through the gateway and into the central complex. This would provide a defending army with another chance to attack the incoming army, and to launch a counterattack to recapture the gateway.

:As the ceremonial gate of the fort, military campaigns would set out from and be received back here, with appropriate religious ceremonies.

* ''Mastani Darwaza'' (Mastani's Gate) or ''Aliibahadur Darwaja'', facing north
:This gate was used by [[Bajirao I]]'s wife [[Mastani]] while travelling out of the palace's perimeter wall.

*''Khidki Darwaza'' (Window Gate), facing east
:[[File:Khidki Darwaja Shaniwar Wada.jpg|thumb|Khidki Darwaja (Window Gate)]]The ''Khidki Darwaja'' is named for an armoured window it contains.

*''Ganesh Darwaza'' ([[Ganesh]] Gate), facing south-east
:Named for the Ganesh Rang Mahal, which used to stand near this door. It could be used by ladies at the fort to visit the nearby [[Kasba Ganapati]] temple.

*''Jambhul Darwaza'' or ''Narayan Darwaja'' (Narayan's Gate), facing south
:This gate was used by concubines to enter and leave the fort. It obtained its second name after [[Narayanrao Peshwa]]'s corpse was removed from the fort for cremation through this gate.

===Palaces===
The important buildings in the palace includes the ''Thorlya Rayancha Diwankhana'' (Marathi:The court reception hall of the eldest royal, meaning Baji Rao I), ''Naachacha Diwankhana'' (Dance Hall), and ''Juna Arsa Mahal'' (Old Mirror Hall).

Since the buildings were destroyed in the fire of 1828, only descriptions of the living areas of the fort are available. All the state halls in the buildings are said to have doorways with exquisitely carved teak arches, with ornamental teardrop teak pillars shaped like ''Suru'' ([[Cupressaceae|cypress]] tree) trunks supporting the ceilings, which were covered with beautiful teak tracery, carved creepers and flowers. Exquisite glass chandeliers hung from the ceilings. The floors were made of highly polished [[marble]], arranged in a [[mosaic]] pattern and adorned with rich [[Persian rug]]s. The walls contained paintings with scenes from the [[Hindu epic]]s, the [[Ramayana]] and the [[Mahabharata]].

The buildings are said to have been designed and constructed by well-known artisans, including Shivaram Krishna, Devaji Sutar, Kondaji Sutar, Morarji Patharwat Bhojraja (an inlay-work expert from [[Jaipur]]) and Ragho (a painter).

It is said that the Shaniwarwada complex was seven storeys high. On the top floor was the residence of the Peshwa which was called Meghadambari. It is said that the spire of [[Jñāneśvar]] temple at [[Alandi]], 17 km away, could be seen from there.

===The Fountain===
The complex had an impressive [[lotus (plant)|lotus]]-shaped fountain: the ''Hazari Karanje'' (Fountain of a thousand jets). It was constructed for the pleasure of the infant [[Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao]]. It was designed as a sixteen petal [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]]; each petal had sixteen jets with an eighty-foot arch. It was the most complicated and intricate fountain of its time.{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}}

Shrimant Anandrao Rudrajirao Dhulap-More (an admiral of Maratha navy in 18th century) who visited the Shaniwarwada in 1791 described it as "very magnificent. A hundred dancers can dance here at a time. In one corner is a marble [[Ganapati]] statue and the palace is flanked by a fountain and a flower garden.".

==Popular culture==
*In 2008, Shaniwar Wada was featured on ''[[The Amazing Race Asia 3]]''. In the game show, one participant from each team of two had to find the correct [[Turban|pheta]] (turban) from among those worn by 50 men within the Wada.
*It was featured in 2014 Marathi historical drama ''[[Rama Madhav]]''.
*Shaniwar Wada featured in the 2015 Hindi historical film ''[[Bajirao Mastani]]''.
*Shaniwar Wada featured in the 2019 Hindi historical film ''[[Panipat (film)|Panipat]]''.
*Shaniwar Wada featured in 2019 Marathi TV Series Swamini on [[Colors Marathi]] where grand set of Shaniwar wada was constructed in [[Mumbai]] Film City.

==See also==
*[[Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum, Kolhapur|New Palace, Kolhapur]] of the [[Bhonsle]] [[Chhatrapati]]s
*[[Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara]] of the [[Gaekwad]]s
*[[Jai Vilas Mahal|Jai Vilas Palace, Gwalior]] of the [[Scindias]]
*[[Bhor Rajwada]] of [[Pant Sachiv]]s
*[[Rajwada|Rajwada, Indore]] of [[Holkar]]s
*[[Thanjavur Maratha palace]] of the [[Bhonsle]]s
*[[List of forts in Maharashtra]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Shaniwar Wada}}
*https://www.greatravellers.com/2019/08/top-5-places-to-visit-in-mumbai.html Top 5 Places to visit in Mumbai
*https://lifeonweekends.com/2017/02/08/the-burnt-broken-shaniwarwada-pune/ The burnt & broken: Shaniwarwada, Pune

{{Pune topics}}
{{Forts in Maharashtra}}
{{Forts in India}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1732]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures of the Maratha Empire]]
[[Category:Royal residences in India]]
[[Category:Palaces in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Forts in Pune district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Pune]]
[[Category:History of Pune]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Pune]]
[[Category:Reportedly haunted locations in India]]