Battle of Sinhagad

The Battle of Sinhagad was a night battle that took place on February 4, 1670 in the fort of Sinhagad, near the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India between the Maratha "narvir" Tanaji and the "Udaybhan" of Mughals. The Marathas defeated the Mughal forces.

The battle is known for the slain Tanaji's valour and sacrifice.

Battle

Composition of Mughal forces

The defences of the fort were strong. Mughal garrison consisted of Rajputs known for their valour under their commander Udaybhan.

Composition of Maratha forces

Tanaji was assisted by Suryaji along with hardcore light infantry of maval region.

Movement and clash of forces

The original name of the Sinhagad Fort was "Kondhana" it was heavily guarded by the Mughals and there was only one way to gain access: an almost impossible to climb, steep edge of the fort which was left unguarded. Tanaji's soldiers braved all odds and climbed the steepest side of the fort. In the bloody battle that followed, Tanaji led from the front but was seriously wounded. Two pieces of news arrived in quick succession at Shivaji's palace: first that Kondana fort had been captured by Shivaji's soldiers; and second that General Tanaji had gone down fighting.

Tanaji uses a Giant Monitor Lizard to climb up the sheer steep vertical rock face serving as Sinhagad fort's rear wall

Shivaji's general Tanaji Malusare used Shivaji’s famous pet monitor lizard which is locally known as "ghorpad" named "Yeshwanti" with a rope tied around its waist for climbing up the steep vertical rock face of the giant boulder (on which the whole fort sits) which serves as the rear wall of the Sinhagad fort which was it’s steepest and the least guarded side and scaled up in the dead of a moonless night during the Battle of Sinhagad. Once he had reached the top himself after the giant lizard, up the sheer steep cliff unnoticed, he threw down rope ladders for others to climb. Common Indian Monitor "(Varanus bengalensis)" found locally in present day Maharashtra is the species of Monitor Lizard said to have been used which is also known as "ghorpad" in Marathi.

These Monitor lizards are famous for their ability to cling to smooth surfaces, and were traditionally trained for this purpose by cattle herders in the area.Fact|date=July 2008

Being cold blooded reptiles monitor lizards can be commonly seen clinging to vertical rock faces and old fort walls and such to warm themselves for becoming active by getting maximum exposure to early morning sun.

"The fort is gained, but the lion is lost"

In the ensuing battle, Tanaji was killed, but the fort was successfully captured by his troops. Shivaji, upon hearing the news of the capture of the fort at the cost of Tanaji's life, was greatly aggrieved and is said to have remarked, "Gadh ala, pan Sinha gela" (paraphrased and translated): "The fort is gained but the Lion is lost !".

Honor

Henceforth the fort, which was called "Kondana" till then, was renamed to Sinhagad, or The Lion's Fort in honor of Tanaji; However there are some evidences that shows that Maharaja Shivaji has send orders to guard Sinhagad few years before this battle, so there is no strong evidence that the fort was named after Tanaji's death in the battle, so there is scope for RESEARCH on the same...

References

*Grant Duff - "History of Marathas", Oxford University Press, London
*S.D.Samant - "Vedh Mahamanvacha"
* [http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:91V79RpwWkoJ:www.auromusic.org/online%2520books/An%2520_approach_to_indian_history-Kittu/10.htm+Ghorpad+Tanaji&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5 Tanaji Malusare used Shivaji's famous pet ghorpad named "Yeshwanti" with a rope tied around its waist for climbing the walls of the Sinhagad fort from its steepest and least guarded side in the dead of a moonless night during the Battle of Sinhagad]
* [http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:euaemW2GlWkJ:www.indbazaar.com/travel/display.asp%3Fartid%3D148+Ghorpad+Tanaji&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6 Tanaji and the brave Mavalas numbering 300, scaled the vertical cliff using ropes tied to a Ghorpad]
* [http://www.indbazaar.com/travel/display.asp?artid=148 “The Conquest of Kondana” / subsequently named Sinhagad Fort in honour of Shivaji’s General Tanaji who lost his life there in the Battle of Sinhagad. Tanaji had climbed the fort wall from its steepest side with the help of a roap tied around a pet Common Indian Monitor Lizard (Gorpad in Marathi)]