Sinhagad

Entrance of Sinhagad Fort

Sinhagad or Sinhgad meaning Lion Fort, is a fortress located roughly 30 kilometres southwest of the city of Pune, India. It is situated on a hill rising 800 metres above the surrounding countryside. Previously called Kondana , the fort has been the site of many important battles, most notably the battle of Sinhagad in 1670. It was also strategically located at the center of a string of other forts such as Rajgad, Purandar and Torna.

Kalyan Darwaza

Perched on an isolated cliff of the Bhuleswar range of the Sahyadri Mountains, its height above sea-level is 1350 metres. Given natural protection by its very steep slopes, the walls and bastions were constructed at only key places; it has two gates – the Kalyan Darwaza in the south-east and the Pune Darwaza in the north-east.

Pune Darwaza

Parts of the once extensive fortification are now in ruins, but visitors still sense how the fort acted as an active military outpost. It is a popular weekend destination for many residents of Pune, with some enthusiasts trekking to the top of the fort from the base near Sinhagad village. The site also houses a memorial to Tanaji as well as the tomb of Rajaram, Shivaji's younger son, who also died here. Visitors can see the military stables, brewery and a Kali (godddess) temple along with a Hanuman statue much to the right side of the temple, as well as the historic gates.
The fort is also part of training at National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. Cadets from the academy are regularly sent on a hikes and runs from NDA to Sinhagad in full battle gear to build endurance and stamina. The fort also houses a television tower for broadcasting local TV signals.


Some more picturesWe started early in the morning at 5:00am, reached the base village at Sinhagad by 5:45am, started climbing immediately and reached the top by 7:20am. Theres a well-built path made from stones.
The fort top give a panoramic view of the surroundings and gives you a blissful feeling. You can view the Khadakwasla lake, spreading its beauty in blue.
Theres a well on the fort, it is said that the water is sweet and contains minerals and said to cure stomach related illness.

Visitors treat this well as sacred. Another talk about this well is that, if you pray and throw a coin in the well your prayers are answer.
Earlier there were small restaurants that provided home made food, but to restore the sanity and maintain cleanliness the operation of restaurants were stopped.