I have been to Pune umpteen times, though this was the first time I saw Shanivar Wada on the inside. Like many places you find in India, splendidly built, poorly maintained, breathtaking
The historic palace of the Peshwa rulers, Shanivar Wada (literally Saturday Palace - because the construction started on Satursday) became the seat of political power during Bajirao-I’s reign and became so conspicuous that to this date the palace has become the symbol of the city and its culture. Built in 1736 (for 16 odd thousand rupees), the Shaniwar Wada was once the palace of the great Peshwa rulers. The wada (Fort) was destroyed by a major fire that lasted for 7 days in 1827, the cause of the fire till today remains a mystery.
Wikipedia has a great write up so I will not try and reproduce it.
I did let my camera amok among the ruins. Here are some snippets
The view from the NagarKhana. The inside of the palace isolates you from the surrounding hubub as soon as you cross the ramparts.
This is the beautiful complex of the "Duwai Bunglow" or the two-storeyed apartment. There is virtually no mention of this structure in historical writings and the raison d’être for this wonderful looking place is permanently lost in time.
As Rhea ran down the steps of, what I assume is a store room, I could not resist the temptation of a unusual angle. I guess, this is either a ventilator for air ciculation/ light or a shaft from pouring the grain down for storage.
The photogrphs below look peaceful, don't they ? A harmless staircase and a innocous window?
This is the site of a 300 year old murder of a hapless 16 year old prince at the hands of his very own uncle.
The prince ran down these stairs shouting, "Save me, uncle" (Kaka, mala vachava)...
...and was slaughtered mercilessly in the vicinity of this door called "Narayan (name of the prince) Darwaza (door)". If only the walls could tell the tale...
History convicted the murderer by making him the Peshwa. Justice has always been blind..
Sweety and Rhea perch directly over a (no longer) secret pasage which originates in the middle of the palace and opened 3.5 KMs away in Saras Baugh. A last ditch attempt to save lives from invading enemies or an escapeway for a midnight sojourn ?
A beautiful detail of the great door which was meant to keep the evil outside (and let the devils inside multiply?)
Rhea was facinated by the spikes which prevented the elephants from being used as a battering ram to enter the palace grounds.
I will go there again.
Sometime.
Armed with more research.
More literature.
And maybe, the walls WILL tell me a story.
Other images
Hazari Karanje (or thousand fountains)
Gun purchased from East India Company
Mahadarwaza (or the main entrance)
