Built in 1729 by Peshwa Baji Rao, Shaniwar Wada is a historic palace located in the heart of Pune near the railway station. The palace has got the distinction of being the seat of the rulers of the Great Maratha Empire till they were dethroned by the British in 1818. The massive palace took two years for completion and later on many additions were made by its successive residents. The palace speaks volumes of amazing architecture that was prevalent at those times and boasts of numerous fountains, enormous courtyards, lush green trees, blooming gardens, offices, residential quarters and audience halls.

Originally the historic palace was a seven storied structure but was gutted down by a mysterious fire that broke out in 1828. The fire which lasted for nearly 15 days almost engulfed the entire monument and its beautiful artifacts with only the outer walls, five gateways and nine bastions being left behind. The main attraction at the palace is its gates known by their names with Delhi Gate being the principal gate along with Mastani or Alibahadur Gate, Khidki Gate, Ganesh Gate and Narayan Gate being the other important gates located inside the premises of the palace. The remains at the palace include its massive walls painted with scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata. A must see attraction at the palace is its gorgeous sixteen petal lotus-shaped fountain that reminds of the golden days of the palace. Presently, Shaniwar Wada is being maintained by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and has become a top tourist destination in Pune for locals as well as tourists of all ages. It’s the best place in Pune to sit around and spend a quiet evening amongst the ruins that depicts the glorious past and cultural heritage of the Peshwas.