Design- Sakshi Jain
Everyone is familiar with the formidable love story of Bajirao Mastani and how their romantic encounters still echo in the historical and unhistorical corners of Pune alike. Built in the 18th century by Bajirao I – who was the Peshwa or the prime minister to the Maratha ruler – Chhatrapati shahu. The original palace was planned to be a 7-storied stone palace but after the first floor was constructed, there was a hue and cry among people as it was believed that stone palaces were to be built only by the Chhatrapati, not his Peshwa. Due to this extreme public unrest, the rest of the construction of this palace was completed using bricks and wood. The palace stayed with the Peshwas for a long time before it was taken over by the East India Company. Shortly after that, a massive fire, engulfing the palace for over 7 days, razed the entire palace to dust and what surprisingly remains is the stone foundation of it.
The terrifying tale
It is believed that the ghost of Peshwa Narayan Rao roams along the abandoned passage of this palace following his gruesome murder because despite begging for mercy, no help came. The tale starts with Peshwa Narayan Rao having differences with his uncle Raghunath Rao and putting him under house arrest, because of his inheritance to the throne. When the young Narayan Rao inherited the title, the news was not well-ordained by all. A couple of these disappointed individuals were the ambitious Uncle Raghunath Rao and his wife. As soon as the news of his accession to the throne came out, they started to plot the murder of the 18-year-old Narayan Rao. What follows is a creepy murder plot not many would like to read about under complete senses.
“Narayanrao la dhara”. The message meant – “Hold Narayanrao” but before it reached the hunters, the message was changed to – “Narayanrao la mara” by Raghunathrao’s wife – Anandibai. The message is now meant to kill Narayanrao. With the aid of the Gardis (a tribe of hunters), Raghunath Rao killed the young Peshwa chopped his body into small pieces, and discarded them in the nearby river. Given the poor state of the body, it could not be cremated and was submerged in the river. Because the Peshwa’s spirit wasn’t released properly, he roams around the palace shouting and screaming in low voices – “Kaka Mala Vacchva“. Meaning “Please save me uncle” – a cry that was ignored by his uncle, when he helplessly ran to him for help.
Many locals still say that sometimes they hear the young Peshwa’s gruesome screams. Entry to the fort after 6:30 PM is strictly not allowed.
It is said that these voices can still be heard on full moon nights. Some have even reported ghost sightings. An inexplicable fire in 1828 broke out during the period the British controlled Shaniwar Wada. The fire razed on for 7 days continuously as talked about in the introduction to the article, destroying all the buildings within the complex. To date, this is the first time anyone has been able to find out how this fire started.
This fire is said to be the last of the five fires that happened in the 1800s. It was the most devastating of them all, leaving behind the cranky remains of the grand structure built and nurtured by the rich Peshwas. Another interesting fact about Shaniwar Wada is how the name came about. Shaniwar means Saturday and Wada refers to a fort or palace. The area around the fort is called Shaniwar Peth. Back in the Peshwas, the local market used to be put up in different wards (peths) on other days. Based on that, the various peths were named after the days and thus, came about Shaniwar Peth, put on Saturday. It was here that Baji Rao decided to build his home and since he laid the foundation stone and had his housewarming pooja on Saturday, the fort was named Shaniwar Wada.
A Glimpse into Maratha Grandeur
The magnificent Shaniwar Wada fort has been constructed in the most charming Maratha-style architecture, it was initially constructed using stone but respecting, only the lowest level was made using that material. The rest of the complex was finished using bricks and wood. The teak wood for Shaniwar Wada came from Junnar forest while the stone was sourced from the quarries in Chinchwad. The limestone that was used to bind the materials was brought in from Jejuri. The Shaniwar Wada complex included five massive gates, nine bastions, and numerous palaces, much to the envy of enemies. The buildings were planned such that the front courtyard had all the administrative offices while the rear had the residential and entertainment palaces. However, walk around the walls and you will be able to spot some of the faded murals and remnants of the carved banana flower arches – that is typical of the Maratha Imperial architecture. It was back in 1736 when the fort was built and, at that time, it was one of the strongest and most formidable forts around. The residential fort complex saw many chapters of the Peshwas’ rich history where the stories were not only about the brave and influential administrators but also about gruesome deaths and falls and the rise of the Peshwas. One such story is of Narayan Rao. Sadly today, the Shaniwarwada is just another name for snippets of great architecture, remnants of lavish cultures, and most importantly, stories of family union.
Despite the chilling tales that shroud Shaniwar Wada, its architectural grandeur and historical significance remain undeniable. A testament to the Maratha empire’s power and ingenuity, this fortress is a treasure trove for history buffs and heritage seekers alike. Its construction, a monumental undertaking costing a staggering 161,100 Rupees in 1736, stands as a testament to the resilience and ambition of its creators.
References
https://thrillingtravel.in/shaniwar-wada-haunted-story-pune.html
Author’s note :
Guncha Shandilya
Guncha is a 19 year old History student with a ceaseless love for ancient architecture, International relations and Japanese literature. Through research and writing, she wishes to share her interests with students of her age and aims to be a diplomat in the future. Being a voiceover intern at ILF, she is enjoying giving voice to our golden heritage and is on a constant quest for such inspiration and projects! She is also a climate advocate and has worked with a lot of international organisations in this regard. Writing is her survival sauce!
1 comment
Love the sketch and beautifully written <3