Sinhagad in Pune

Sinhagad or Sinhgad (Devanagari, Marathi) meaning Lion Fort, is located near the city of Pune, India, situated on a hill rising 800 metres above the surrounding countryside.

History
Previously called Kondana (Devanagari), the fort's location has been strategically important since at least the 14th century and has been the site of many important battles.

Battle of Sinhagad
One of the most famous battles ( Battle of Sinhagad ) for Sinhagad was fought to recapture the fort by Tanaji Malusare, a General of Shivaji in March 1670. It was after this battle that the Kondhana fort was renamed to Sinhagad after Tanaji, whose nickname was 'the lion' (Sinha). Having spearheaded the attack and fighting valiantly, Tanaji's life was lost in capturing this important fort.

On hearing of Tanaji's death, Shivaji is said to have remorsed with the words "Gad ala pan Sinha gela" (Marathi, Translation: The fort has been gained but the lion has been lost). Historically, this quote is believed to be one of the most important associations of the fort with Maratha history.

A bust of Tanaji has been established on the fort in memory of his contribution to the battle.

Lokmanya Tilak
More recently, during the 20th century, Lokmanya Tilak, the Indian freedom fighter, built a bungalow atop the fort. Also, Gandhiji is said to have asked for water from it whenever he was imprisoned in the nearby town of Pune.

Present Day
The once extensive fortification is now in ruins, but visitors can still get a sense as to how the fort may have appeared as an active military outpost. It is a popular weekend destination for many residents of Pune. The site also houses a memorial to Tanaji as well as the tomb of Rajaram, Shivaji's younger son, who also died here.

Sinhagad and NDA
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. This is to build endurance, stamina, determination and team spirit. The Sinhagad hike is also handed out as a punishment to NDA cadets who occasionally step out of line. Graduated military Commissioned Officers later proudly tell stories of how many times they climbed Sinhagad.