Day before yesterday I had to attend some family function in Pune. Hence we reached Pune on Saturday night and stayed at our relative’s places. I remember Sadguru Aniruddha Bapu always telling through his discourses to go on nature trails, outings, nature picnics, watch sunrise, etc. Hence in the night itself we all had decided to visit Sinhgad Fort or Kondana.
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| Sinhgad covered in fog and mist |
We started at around 6:30 am in the morning and within half an hour we reached at the base of Sinhgad. I was in my three-fourth and a tee as I had expected warm climate as it was July but it was really chilly. The moment we got out of our car the first sight of Sinhgad was extremely pleasing and utterly surprising. The entire Fort was enswathed in thick fog and mist. It was a superb sight indeed. Though it was 7:00 am on a Sunday morning the base of the Fort was crowded and that too mainly with youngsters. The exuberance of these youth was really electrifying the atmosphere. We started our climb.
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| On the way to top of Sinhgad |
The chilly feeling had now immediately disappeared as we started climbing the Fort. To my surprise my mother and aunt who suffer from knee pain too joined us in the walk. The sight of Sinhgad is simply too tempting for anyone to just stay back like a moron. Within half an hour we reached at the top and the elders in our group settled down for a hot cup of tea while we youngsters proceeded further to see the cliff which Tanaji Malusare, a commander of Shivaji Maharaj had scaled in the death of night and mounted a fatal attack on the Moghuls and captured the fort at the cost of his own life.
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| View from Tanaji Kada |
Within minutes we reached Tanaji Kada (cliff) and what we saw mesmerized us. The cliff which Tanaji had used to climb the fort to avoid detection was almost a huge straight mountain wall. Yet in the complete darkness Tanaji Malusare and his 500 men climbed it on a moonless night that too with help of Tanaji’s pet monitor lizard, Yashwanti. Tanaji tied a rope to her and made her reach the fort top. Here she anchored herself with her strong grip and the Maratha warriors climbed the vicious cliff. What happened further was another tale of valour unseen. Just 500 men under Tanaji Malusare fought with 5000 strong Mughals and actually decimated them. Tanaji suffered a blow as his dhal (shield) broke in sword fight with Mughal Commander Udaybhan Rathod but undeterred he used his head gear made of just cloth as a shield. Though Tanaji was martyred he had already done his job. Further Udaybhan was killed by Tanaji’s uncle, Shelar Mama who was in his 80s’ then.
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| Sinhgad Entrance Gate |
This whole story tells us volumes and volumes about the faith and devotion that Tanaji and all his men had towards their Master, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. And it shows us how faith clubbed with devotion can instill valour and fearlessness in us and make us victorious. Hats off to Tanaji Malusare, Shelar Mama, Suryaji Malusare and those 500 brave men who offered themselves to their ‘cause’.
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| One of the many natural ponds on Sinhgad |
It was not just a picnic for me but indeed a pilgrimage, pilgrimage to a place where world has witnessed personification of the very word ‘FAITH’. I pray to Sadguru’s lotus feet that he instil in me the same faith and devotion and I am sure everything else that is needed for the ‘service to the cause’ will come with it.
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| On top of Sinhgad Completely surrounded by Fog |
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| Valley surrounding Sinhgad |
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| View from Parking Base of Sinhgad |
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