Shaniwar Wada, Pune, Maharashtra India

Shaniwar Wada is one of the most popular monuments in Pune. In 1729 Peshwa Baji Rao commissioned the building of Shaniwar Wada. Shaniwar Wada has great fountains, courtyards, fruits, trees, offices audience halls and substantial residential areas as its attractions.

The palace was constructed by Bajiroa 1st in the 1730. It was a 13 storey building. There is a story told about why this place was chosen for the construction. The story says-The Thorale (Elder) Bajirao once saw a rabbit chasing a dog in this place. Taking inspiration from this Shaniwar Wada was built, a place which would never see defeat. It used to be the head quarter of the Peshwas and it symbolizes Pune's culture. Looking at the construction one understands how the structure was built giving highest priority to the security. The main entrance is known as 'Delhi Darwaja', others have named like Ganesh, Mastani, Jambhal, Khidki.

The architecture of Shaniwar Wada was influenced by Moghul design and the hallmark of the Maratha craftsmanship. Shaniwar Wada was established by Bajirao Peshwa-I. The main door is about twenty one feet tall. The door located in the north of the palace was named `Mastani Darwaza`.

The security of Shaniwar Wada acquired a new dimension. Two hundred and seventy-five towers with fifteen to twenty soldiers were deployed there to guard the palace of Shaniwar Wada. All about, three thousand one hundred and forty-four guards were there to protect the monument from the enemies. The present feature of Shaniwar Wada is not the actual one. Seven Peshwas later restructured the monument.

In the year 1827 Shaniwar Wada caught fire. But the fire mysteriously remained undetected. The fire completely absorbed itself to all the artifacts and beauty of the monument. Before the monument caught fire there were impressive stone walls and City Center. The residential quarters were designed with suru wood. The evening was full of entertainment and enjoyed by the family lived there on that time. Shaniwar Wada is a good illustration of efficient town planning maintained during the rule of Peshwas. 

Shaniwarwada was the stately mansion originally built as the residence of the Peshwas. The foundation of the mansion was laid by Bajirao 1 in the year 1730 AD and construction was completed in 1732 AD at a cost of Rs. 16,120. Several additions were made to the palace like fortification walls with bastions, gates and court halls by his successors.

What was once a seven storied structure was gutted by a fire in the palace. Only the remains can be seen now like the fortification walls with five gateways and nine bastions that enclosed the entire palace. The principal gate is called Dilli Darwaja (Delhi Gate); the other gates are called Mastani or Alibahadur Darwaja, Khidki Darwaja, Ganesh Darwaja and Narayan Darwaja.

  The Shaniwar wada is historical, heriage place in Pune. It is Palace fort loacted at the heart of Pune city. It was constructed in 1732 as the mansion of the Peshwa (prime ministers of the Maratha Empire), and remained the political capital of the Empire until its annihilation.