Shaniwarwada

Shaniwarwada ( Marathi : शनिवार वाडा , Śanivār vāḍā ) is a historical fortress and at the same time the former seat of government of the Peshwa in Pune , India. In 1828 a fire of some unknown cause destroyed large parts of the Shaniwarwada.

meaning

A hall of the Shaniwarwada

Shaniwar is Marathi and means on the one hand Saturday, on the other hand Shaniwar is a district of Pune in which the Shaniwarwada is located. Wada is also Marathi and means something like house complex.

history

Establishment

On Saturday (Shaniwar), January 10, 1730, Baji Rao I laid the foundation stone for the construction by laying a handful of earth at the place where the Shaniwarwada was to be built later. The materials for the construction were obtained from Junnar on the one hand, and from Chinchwad and Jejuri on the other . So they got teak from Junnar and lime and stone from Chinchwad and Jejuri. In 1732 the fortress was completed after a construction period of two years and inaugurated on January 22, 1732 with a Hindu opening ceremony. Over the next 60 years, the ruling Peshwas added to the complex to the point where it was seven stories high. The total cost of construction totaled 16,110 rupees.

One of the facilities of the Shaniwarwada

The main gate to the north: Delhi Darvaja

Shaniwarwada as a palace

The Shaniwarwada was used as the seat of government by the Peshwa family from its establishment in 1732 until 1818 when the British arrived and the Peshwa reign ended.