Battle of Sinhagad
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Sinhagad was a night battle that took place on February 4, 1670 in the fort of Sinhagad
, near the city of Pune
, Maharashtra
, India
. It was fought between Tanaji Malusare
, a commander of Maratha ruler Shivaji and Udaybhan Rathod, fortkeeper under Jai Singh I
. Tanaji's army won the war to hand over control of the fort to the Marathas
with casualties 300 from Mughal side and 50 from Marathas as well as around 4000 Mughal troops imprisoned by mere 500 Marathas.
, and was strategically located amidst other forts in the region such as Rajgad
, Purandar
and Torna
. The Mughals maintained an army of roughly 5000 men led by Udaybhan, a relative of Jai Singh, and the fort itself was defended by cannons at each turret.
Only one turret was left unguarded as it was at the top of a steep cliff, which was thought impossible to scale. Tanaji was able to infiltrate the fort and carry out a surveillance. He also discovered that there was a party on the night of the battle, so the Mughal soldiers would be off their guard. Tanaji was assisted by his brother Suryaji along with 300 Mavalas, who were light infantry of Maval
.
named Yeshwanti, with a rope tied around its waist for climbing up the steep vertical rock face. After 342 marathas reached on the top with Tanaji Malusare, the rope gave away due to abrasion against the rocks and 60 Marathas who were climbing on the rope fell down and died. Tanaji Malusare then instructed his brother Suryaji to continue the attack with other Marathas from the Kalyan darwaja with the assurance that the Mahadeo Kolis
would help him get through.
Once inside, they set upon Udaybhan and his men. A fierce combat took place between Tanaji and Udaybhan. Udaybhan managed to rid Tanaji of his shield, who then continued to fight by tying a cloth over one of his hands and using it to ward off Udaybhan's sword attacks. Tanaji fought fiercely in spite of losing his shield. He managed to acquire another sword and was thus fighting Uday Bhan with two swords while the latter fought with a sword and a shield. At the climax of the battle, each one struck a fatal blow to the other, both collapsing and succumbing to their injuries. The fall of Tanaji created a panic amongst his soldiers who tried to use the ropes as an escape route. Legend states that the ropes were then cut by Tanaji's brother Suryaji forcing the soldiers to either fight or jump down the sheer cliffs to their deaths. This was in line with the ideology of shivaji, wherein the Marathas were not fighting for a king or a master, but for the freedom of their motherland, the Muslims had taken control of. A loss of the leader should not deter the morale of the force but instead a new leader should take his place without any delay.
Tanaji's surprise attack in the dead of the night caught the defenders offguard and the fort was captured by the Marathas. The legend says Shivaji renamed the fort from Kondana to Sinhagad (Lion's Fort) in Tanaji's honor.
from Sinhagad
after the battle taking advantage of darkness of midnight. This battle significantly boosted confidence of Marathas and within two months after this battle Marathas won all nearby forts like Purandar
, Lohagad
so on. Till beginning of rainy monsoon season, excluding Pune, Indapur and Baramati all regions were won by Marathas. In June 1670, the Mogul army was totally unprepared and ill-equipped as monsoon had arrived. Sensing this as unique opportunity Chatrapati Shivaji decided to attack urban area of Pune, Baramati, Supe and Indapur in the rainy season. Within 10–15 days, Marathas captured all these areas from Moguls
, this transition happened nearly after 10 years that is in 1660, these cities were captured by Mogul army headed by Shahista Khan.
Today, there is a monument with a bust of Tanaji in honor of his valour.
The name of the road from Pune City to Fort is known as Tanaji Malusare Road.
Sinhagad
Sinhagad, Sinhgarh, or Sinhgad , is a fortress located roughly 30 kilometres southwest of the city of Pune, India. Previously called Kondhana , the fort has been the site of many important battles, most notably the battle of Sinhagad in 1670...
, near the city of Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It was fought between Tanaji Malusare
Tanaji Malusare
Tanaji Malusare , also known as Simha , was a warrior and military leader in the army of Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire in 17th century India. Tanaji was one of Shivaji's closest friends; the two had known each other since childhood....
, a commander of Maratha ruler Shivaji and Udaybhan Rathod, fortkeeper under Jai Singh I
Jai Singh I
Mirza Raja Jai Singh was a senior general of the Mughal Empire and a ruler of the kingdom of Amber . His father was Maha Singh the Raja of Garha, and his mother was Damayanti, a princess of Mewar.The great Raja Man Singh of Amber had several sons, the most capable of whom were the eldest Jagat...
. Tanaji's army won the war to hand over control of the fort to the Marathas
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
with casualties 300 from Mughal side and 50 from Marathas as well as around 4000 Mughal troops imprisoned by mere 500 Marathas.
Backdrop
The fort, which was previously known as Kondana, was controlled by Mirza Raja Jai SinghJai Singh I
Mirza Raja Jai Singh was a senior general of the Mughal Empire and a ruler of the kingdom of Amber . His father was Maha Singh the Raja of Garha, and his mother was Damayanti, a princess of Mewar.The great Raja Man Singh of Amber had several sons, the most capable of whom were the eldest Jagat...
, and was strategically located amidst other forts in the region such as Rajgad
Rajgad
Rajgad , literally meaning King of forts, one of the forts of Maharashtra state in India. Situated in the Pune district, the fort is approximately 1326 meters above sea level....
, Purandar
Purandar
Purandar may refer to:* Purandar tehsil - for a tehsil in Pune, Maharashtra* Purandar fort - for a fort in Pune, Maharashtra...
and Torna
Torna
Torna may refer to:* Turňa, county of the former Kingdom of Hungary* Torna Hundred, administrative division of Skåne, Sweden* Torna Fort in Pune District, Maharashtra, India...
. The Mughals maintained an army of roughly 5000 men led by Udaybhan, a relative of Jai Singh, and the fort itself was defended by cannons at each turret.
Only one turret was left unguarded as it was at the top of a steep cliff, which was thought impossible to scale. Tanaji was able to infiltrate the fort and carry out a surveillance. He also discovered that there was a party on the night of the battle, so the Mughal soldiers would be off their guard. Tanaji was assisted by his brother Suryaji along with 300 Mavalas, who were light infantry of Maval
Maval
Maval or is a tehsil in Maval subdivision of Pune district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Description:The word Maval is derived from a Marathi word Mavalati, meaning the direction in which the sun sets. This region is towards the west of Pune area. It is hilly terrain and part of the Sahyadri...
.
Battle
Legend has it that Tanaji used a monitor lizardBengal monitor
The Bengal monitor or common Indian monitor, is a monitor lizard found widely distributed over South Asia. This large lizard is mainly terrestrial, and grows to about 175 cm from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail...
named Yeshwanti, with a rope tied around its waist for climbing up the steep vertical rock face. After 342 marathas reached on the top with Tanaji Malusare, the rope gave away due to abrasion against the rocks and 60 Marathas who were climbing on the rope fell down and died. Tanaji Malusare then instructed his brother Suryaji to continue the attack with other Marathas from the Kalyan darwaja with the assurance that the Mahadeo Kolis
KOLI
KOLI is a radio station serving Wichita Falls, Texas and Vicinity with a country music format. It operates on FM frequency 94.9 MHz and is under ownership of Cumulus Media. It is the radio flagship station for the Wichita Falls Wildcats hockey team....
would help him get through.
Once inside, they set upon Udaybhan and his men. A fierce combat took place between Tanaji and Udaybhan. Udaybhan managed to rid Tanaji of his shield, who then continued to fight by tying a cloth over one of his hands and using it to ward off Udaybhan's sword attacks. Tanaji fought fiercely in spite of losing his shield. He managed to acquire another sword and was thus fighting Uday Bhan with two swords while the latter fought with a sword and a shield. At the climax of the battle, each one struck a fatal blow to the other, both collapsing and succumbing to their injuries. The fall of Tanaji created a panic amongst his soldiers who tried to use the ropes as an escape route. Legend states that the ropes were then cut by Tanaji's brother Suryaji forcing the soldiers to either fight or jump down the sheer cliffs to their deaths. This was in line with the ideology of shivaji, wherein the Marathas were not fighting for a king or a master, but for the freedom of their motherland, the Muslims had taken control of. A loss of the leader should not deter the morale of the force but instead a new leader should take his place without any delay.
Tanaji's surprise attack in the dead of the night caught the defenders offguard and the fort was captured by the Marathas. The legend says Shivaji renamed the fort from Kondana to Sinhagad (Lion's Fort) in Tanaji's honor.
Aftermath
Nearly 1500 Mogul infantry fled to PunePune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
from Sinhagad
Sinhagad
Sinhagad, Sinhgarh, or Sinhgad , is a fortress located roughly 30 kilometres southwest of the city of Pune, India. Previously called Kondhana , the fort has been the site of many important battles, most notably the battle of Sinhagad in 1670...
after the battle taking advantage of darkness of midnight. This battle significantly boosted confidence of Marathas and within two months after this battle Marathas won all nearby forts like Purandar
Purandar
Purandar may refer to:* Purandar tehsil - for a tehsil in Pune, Maharashtra* Purandar fort - for a fort in Pune, Maharashtra...
, Lohagad
Lohagad
AD) built several structures in the fort such as a big tank and a step-well .On the west side, there is a long and narrow wall-like fortified spur called Vinchukata because of its shape...
so on. Till beginning of rainy monsoon season, excluding Pune, Indapur and Baramati all regions were won by Marathas. In June 1670, the Mogul army was totally unprepared and ill-equipped as monsoon had arrived. Sensing this as unique opportunity Chatrapati Shivaji decided to attack urban area of Pune, Baramati, Supe and Indapur in the rainy season. Within 10–15 days, Marathas captured all these areas from Moguls
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
, this transition happened nearly after 10 years that is in 1660, these cities were captured by Mogul army headed by Shahista Khan.
Legacy
Upon hearing the news of the capture of the fort at the cost of Tanaji's life, Shivaji was greatly aggrieved and is said to have remarked, "Gad aala, pan sinha gela" - "We captured the fort but lost the lion". The fort was renamed from Kondana to Sinhagad, in honor of Tanaji.Today, there is a monument with a bust of Tanaji in honor of his valour.
The name of the road from Pune City to Fort is known as Tanaji Malusare Road.