Sinhagad Fort, Baramati
About Sinhagad Fort
History
Battle of Sinhagad
One of the most famous battles on Sinhgad was fought by Tanaji Malusare, general of Chhatrapati Shivaji of the Maratha Empire in order to recapture the fort on March 1670 A steep cliff leading to the fort was scaled in the dead of the night with the help of a tamed monitor lizard named "Yashwanti", colloquially known as a Ghorpad. Thereafter, A fierce battle ensued between Tanaji and his men versus the Mughal army headed by Udaybhan Singh Rathod, a Rajput sardar who had control of the fort. Tanaji Malusare lost his life, but his brother Suryaji took over and captured the Kondana fort, now known as Sinhagad.There is an anecdote that upon hearing of Tanaji's death, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj expressed his remorse with the words, "Gad aala, pan Sinha gela" - "The Fort is conquered, but the Lion was lost". According to some, the name Sinhagad predates this event. A bust of Tanaji Malusare was established on the fort in the memory of his contribution to the battle.