Shivneri Fort information in English
Shivneri Fort Information
This is a famous lullaby sung in Maharashtra. The holy birthplace of that king – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj – is the Shivneri Fort.
Location of Shivneri Fort:
Shivneri Fort is situated near Junnar city in Pune district of Maharashtra. It stands tall in the Sahyadri mountain ranges, guarding the very old trade route of Naneghat. Shivneri is a fort surrounded by steep rock cliffs on all sides.
Establishment: Around 1170 AD
Height: 3500 feet above sea level, and 900 feet above its base.
Routes to reach Shivneri Fort:
From Mumbai: After crossing Malshej Ghat, there is a road towards Ganesh Khind. From there, one can proceed towards Shivneri Fort.
From Pune: By the Narayangaon route, after covering around 100 km, you reach Junnar city. From behind the Shivaji statue in Junnar, you can take a tar road up to the base steps of the fort.
Junnar city has been a well-known ancient trade center, and from here there are two main approaches to the fort.
The nearest airports are Pune and Mumbai. From there, one can travel by road to the fort.
Chain Route (Sakhli Wat):
From behind the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in Junnar city, going a little further, near a temple a small trail leads towards the fort walls. Using the stone-carved steps, one can climb up to Shivneri fort. This route is considered a difficult climb.
Seven-Gate Route (Saat Darwaja Wat):
From Shivaji’s statue in Junnar, a tar road goes up to the base stepway of the fort. From there, through the seven gates, one can reach the top of Shivneri fort.
Places to see on Shivneri Fort:
Stepway path
Mahadarwaja (Main Gate)
Ganesh Darwaja
Parvangi Darwaja
Pir Darwaja
Hathi Darwaja (Elephant Gate)
Shivai Devi Darwaja
Mena Darwaja
Shivai Devi Temple
Shiv Janmabhoomi (Birthplace of Shivaji Maharaj)
Ambar Khana (Granary)
Ganga–Yamuna water tanks
Badami Tank
Kadelot Point (Cliff execution point)
Koli Chouthara (Koli memorial)
Paga (horse stables)
Idgah
Kaman Mosque
Rock-cut caves
Kaman Tank, etc.
Mahadarwaja (Main Gate):
As soon as the tar road ends, the stone steps begin. After climbing up, one comes across a strong and grand entrance gate – this is the Mahadarwaja.
Ganesh Darwaja of Shivneri Fort:
After crossing the Mahadarwaja, another huge gateway appears. On it are carved sculptures of animals – mainly Sharabha, a mythological lion figure.
• Parvangi Gate:
The third gate is the Parvangi Gate. Its upper arch has collapsed. Now only the vertical frame remains.
Pir Gate:
The next gate that comes is the Pir Gate. This is a very strong and sturdy gate.
Elephant Gate:
After climbing 225 to 250 steps and moving ahead through a curved stairway shaped like an elephant’s trunk, we reach the Elephant Gate. This gate has a very strong and beautiful frame, and its door is studded with sharp iron spikes.
Water Tanks:
Moving further through the stairway from the Elephant Gate, on one side we find small tanks carved in the rock. On this fort, when counted, there are at least 60 such water reservoirs. From this, it is evident that the fort was water-rich.
Horse Stable (Ashwashala):
After proceeding further from the Elephant Gate, along the side of the water tanks, there is a horse stable built inside a rock-cut area. In the walls, holes for tying horses with ropes can also be seen.
Shivai Devi Gate:
Moving ahead from the Elephant Gate, two paths can be seen—one leading to the fort and the other towards Shivai Devi temple. On the way to Shivai Devi temple, there is a strong stone-built gate called the Shivai Devi Gate.
Caves (Lenis):
The path beside the Shivai Gate leads towards the caves carved in the rock. One can see caves and some monastic cells cut into the rock. These caves, each the size of a small room, are truly a historical heritage. On this fort, there are also Buddhist caves. Among them are 50 Buddhist caves, 78 viharas, and 3 chaitya halls, some of which are incomplete. From this, it is understood that Buddhism was spread along this trade route. It is also believed that travelers and Buddhist missionaries used to rest in these viharas. This information is revealed from the inscriptions of that time.
Shivai Devi Temple:
After entering through the Shivai Devi Gate, right beside the high cliff, there is a temple—the Shivai Devi Temple. Jijabai had vowed to Shivai Devi that if she were blessed with a son, she would name him after the goddess. Later, when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born, he was named Shivaji after Shivai Devi.
Tanaji Malusare Garden:
While climbing the Shivneri Fort, we come across a garden. This was built recently, and different kinds of trees can be seen here. The garden has been named after Tanaji Malusare.
Mena Gate:
After the Elephant Gate, we come across the Mena Gate.
Kulup (Lock) Gate:
After crossing one gate after another, we finally reach the inner fort (Balekilla) as well as the shrine of Shivai Devi. Just before that, there is a strong gate known as the Kulup Gate, considered the last lock of this fort.
One after another, these gates were built on the fort during different reigns. On each of these gates, one can see carvings of Sharabh (a mythological creature symbolizing bravery).
Ambar Khana:
After entering through the Kulup Gate, one can see some ruins of broken structures. Nearby is the Ambar Khana, where grains used to be stored.
Shivkunj:
Moving further from Ambar Khana, there is a structure known as Shivkunj. Here, one can see the idols of Jijamata and Shivaji Maharaj. Baby Shivaji, holding a small sword, seems as if Jijamata is instilling in his mind the dream of establishing Swarajya, and the child Shivaji is determined to win Hindavi Swarajya with the strength of his sword.
• From here, a second chain route leading up to Shivneri can be seen. By holding the iron chain fixed along the stone steps, one can climb up.
Kaman Masjid:
In front of Shivkunj, one finds an arched structure in Bijapur style, known as the Kaman Masjid. This was the place where Muslims offered Namaz. At the Kaman Masjid, a crescent-shaped arch can be seen.
Kaman Tank:
Near the Kaman Masjid, at the lower side, there is a water tank. Before offering Namaz, water from this tank was used to wash hands and feet before entering the mosque. This was a sacred prayer place for the Muslim community.
Ganga–Yamuna Tanks:
A little ahead from Shivkunj, there are two natural springs. Two tanks are present there, called Ganga and Yamuna.
Bathing House / Hammam Khana:
A bathing house was built here for the royal women. The construction resembles a modern bathtub. This is where the women of the royal family used to bathe.
Shivjanmabhoomi (Birthplace of Shivaji Maharaj):
On the Balekilla stands a two-storeyed historic structure called the Shivjanmabhoomi building. During the fierce battles between the two Shahs and the Mughals, Shahaji Raje kept his wife Jijabai here for safety, as she was pregnant. It was at this place that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born. In the lower part of this mansion, there is a cradle, along with a small idol of Shivaji Maharaj. The doorway of this mansion is beautifully designed.
Badami Tank:
Close to the Shivjanmabhoomi building, there is an almond-shaped water tank called Badami Tank. In the center of this tank stands a pillar, which was used to measure the water level.
Kadelot Point:
From Badami Tank, a path leads towards Kadelot Point. This was the place where criminals, traitors, spies, and war prisoners were punished in ancient times. The steep cliff here ensured certain death if someone was pushed down, making it the execution point for capital punishment.
Koli Chauthara:
In the early Shivaji period, this fort at times came under the Nizamshahi, at times under the Adilshahi, and at times under the Mughals.
After the fall of the Nizamshahi, the fort went into Mughal possession. As it was far from their power center, the local Koli community decided to take advantage and established control over it. When the Mughals besieged the fort with a large army, Khemaji Raghavan and Sarnayak led the defense. But the inexperienced Koli soldiers soon surrendered. After surrender, the Mughals took possession of the fort, captured about 1500 Mahadev Koli soldiers, and imprisoned them, subjecting them to severe torture. On the Balekilla, at a high point, they executed these soldiers one by one by beheading.
The Mughals did not stop there—they also killed Khemaji, the Naiks, and their families, including children, completely annihilating them. Later, the Naiks from the twelve Maval regions were also captured and executed. This was done to establish Mughal dominance. The heads of those 1500 Kolis were buried near the execution pillar, and a platform was built there, now known as the Mahadev Koli Chauthara.
View from the Balekilla:
From the Balekilla of Shivneri Fort, one can see Vadooj Dam water, Chawand, Naneghat, Jivdhan Fort, and the beautiful surrounding landscape.
Historical Events of Shivneri Fort and Region:
• The town of Junnar and the trade route passing through it is an ancient trade route, making this region historically significant since very early times.
• The old names of Junnar in different dynasties were Jirna Nagar, Junnir, Junnar.
• During the reign of the Shaka king
Nahapana, Junnar was the capital city.
• Satavahana King Gautamiputra Satakarni defeated Shaka king Nahapana and established his dominance over this region. Since Naneghat was a very old trade route, he excavated some caves and rock-cut chambers at certain places along this route for surveillance. He also stationed guards at outposts. In one of the Ranjan Ghats, coins were carved into rocks and collected as tax during that period. During this time, some construction of Shivneri Fort was also done.
• After the Satavahana dynasty, the Chalukya dynasty ruled this region for some time.
• After the Chalukya reign, the Rashtrakuta dynasty had control over this region for a while.
• From 1170 AD to 1308 AD, the Yadava dynasty exercised power here. Recognizing the importance of the trade route, the Yadavas decided to build a fort at this location and constructed Shivneri Fort. The Yadavas also appointed people from the Koli community in this region.
• After the establishment of the Bahmani rule, Malik Ul-Tujar attacked this fort in 1443 AD to capture it. He defeated the Koli chieftain and brought the fort under Bahmani control.
• In 1446 AD, Malik Mahmud’s father passed away, and the Bahmani kingdom was divided into five sultanates. At that time, Malik Mahmud established the Nizamshahi at Shivneri Fort in 1470 AD.
• In 1496 AD, the capital of the Nizamshahi was shifted to Ahmadnagar.
• In 1565 AD, the Nizam imprisoned his brother Qasim, keeping him captive in Shivneri Fort.
• In 1595 AD, Malojiraje Bhosale displayed bravery against the Mughals on behalf of the Nizamshahi, and as a reward, he was entrusted with Shivneri Fort and the administration of the Junnar region.
• In 1629 AD, while defending the Nizamshahi and fighting against the Mughals and Adilshahi, it became necessary to move from one fort to another. At that time, Jijabai was pregnant. For her protection, Shahuji Raje Bhosale placed her at Shivneri Fort under the supervision of the fort commander Vijayraj.
• On Falgun Vadya Tritiya, Shaka 1551, which corresponds to Friday, 19 February 1630 in the Gregorian calendar, after sunset, Chhatrapati Shivaji was born at this place, Shivneri, marking the dawn of Swarajya.
• In 1632 AD, Shahajiraje’s elder son Sambhaji was married to the daughter of fort commander Sidhoji. Sambhaji displayed bravery while fighting the Mughals who marched into the Junnar region against the Nizamshahi. At that time, the Mughal army captured Junnar, but they could not capture Shivneri Fort, which remained under the Nizamshahi.
• In 1636 AD, the Nizamshahi came to an end due to internal Yadava conflicts, and the territory of Nizamshahi was divided between the Mughals and Adilshahis. Shivneri Fort came under Mughal control. However, as this fort was far from the Mughal power center, the soldiers of the Mahadev Koli community rebelled and declared themselves independent. They appointed Khemaji Raghutwan as their leader, supported by the twelve Mavals’ chiefs.
• In 1650 AD, the Mughal emperor sent a large army and laid siege to Shivneri Fort. After capturing the fort, a large-scale massacre of the Mahadev Koli community was carried out.
• During Shivaji’s time, Moropant Pingale attempted to bring this fort into Swarajya but was unsuccessful.
• In 1678 AD, Shivaji attempted to capture Shivneri by raiding the Junnar region, but could not succeed.
• In 1716 AD, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj captured this birthplace of Shivaji and brought it under Swarajya. Later, the fort was handed over to the Peshwas.
• The Peshwas used this fort to keep war prisoners. In 1755 AD, during the war against Tulaji Angre, he was captured and kept here. At that time, the soldiers of the Koli community helped Tulaji Angre escape. In response, Nanasahib Peshwa canceled the jagirs, jobs, and grants given to the Kolis, which caused resentment, leading them to revolt against the Peshwas.
• In 1764 AD, Madhavrao Peshwa introduced administrative changes that affected the rights and privileges of the Koli community. In protest, the Kolis rebelled at Shivneri. The revolt was suppressed.
• In 1765 AD, the Kolis rebelled a second time. Again, the rebellion was suppressed, and the Kolis were removed from their positions. Finally, in 1771 AD, Nana Phadnis recognized the importance of the Kolis, reconciled with them, and reappointed them to service at the fort.
• During the Peshwa period, Shivneri Fort was used to detain prisoners. On joyous occasions, prisoners were released. For example, during the birth of Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa on 18 April 1774, prisoners were freed from the jail.
• On 10 May 1818, after the Anglo-Maratha war, Major Aldridge captured Shivneri Fort.
• In 1947 AD, after India gained independence, this fort became a part of independent India.
• Shivneri Fort is now declared a National Protected Monument by the Government of India in the state of Maharashtra.
Shivneri Fort Information
