Pune is known to have been the seat of Maratha power and the different areas in Pune bear witness to the rich culture and grandeur of the times when great rulers and generals strode its paths. The glory of Pune was further enhanced with the rule of the Peshwas who established Pune as their main seat of power. 

The Peshwa Bajirao I built Shaniwarwada, which is located in the heart of the city in the year 1732. It was a massive multi-storied structure that served the purposes of being a palace and a fortified mansion at the same time. History has it that the elder Bajirao saw a rabbit chasing a dog in this place. Taking inspiration from this fact that the place could never witness defeat, the Shaniwar wada came to serve as the headquarters of the Peshwa rule. However, a mysterious fire in the year 1828 destroyed the entire palace, razing it to the ground. 

There are five main gateways and nine bastions that enclose the palace. The main gate is called Dilli Darwaja or the Delhi Gate. The other gates are the Mastani or Alibahadur Darwaja, the Khidki Darwaja, the Ganesh Darwaja and the Narayan Darwaja. There is a sixteen-petaled lotus fountain that is still present here. The walls are adorned with pictures that depict scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

 There is a statue of Bajijrao (1 st) on a horse in the ground in front of Shaniwar Wada. Inside one can see Ganesh Mahal, Rang Mahal, Aarsa (Mirror) Mahal, Hasti Dant (Elephant Tusk) Mahal, Diwan Khana, Fountains. The nearby street was used by the Peshwas to crush dissidents under elephants. 

The Wada is open from 8 am to 6.30pm for visitors. It is located in the vicinity of prominent areas such as Deccan, Laxmi Road and Shivaji Nagar and is easily reached from any of these places. There is a light and sound show that is held at the Shaniwar wada which is also one of its main attractions. The show is held in both Marathi, the local language and in English everyday. Tickets are nominal @ Rs.25/- per head. The Pune Municipal Corporation hosts the Shaniwar wada Mahotsav once a year.  

In recent years, there has been a continuous effort to restore the Wada to its former glory. Procuring rocks and stones that closely resemble and date back to the same time as that of the stones used in the Wada’s construction is one such effort. Old wells in places such as Aurangabad have been identified for this purpose. The Archaeology Department is also doing its bit in the conservation.

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