Poetic tribute to Sinhagad – Lion’s Fort

Perched atop the rugged Sahyadri ranges, Sinhagad Fort has witnessed centuries of fierce battles, unyielding courage, and the dream of Swarajya.

Formerly known as Kondhana, it became immortal in history after the daring sacrifice of Tanaji Malusare, a trusted warrior of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

His legendary conquest and the emotional words “Gad aala pan Sinha gela” (“The fort is won, but the lion is lost”) echo through Maharashtra’s heart even today.

I was first introduced to the legendary story of Sinhagad when I was in just second standard. In my Balbharati textbook, there was a chapter on the courageous battle fought at this historic fort.

Reading about Tanaji Malusare’s valour completely fascinated me as a child. Sinhagad holds a very special place in my heart. It was the first fort I ever climbed — I had the opportunity to climb this beautiful fort at the age of nine.

Since then, a personal and emotional bond has grown between me and this grand fort.

Inspired by its glorious history and my childhood memories, I have written this humble poetic tribute to Sinhagad — the Lion’s Fort — and to all the heroes who walked its sacred soil.

In this poem, I have addressed Sinhagad Fort in the second person — as “you.”

Through this poetic voice, I imagine Sinhagad as a living witness to centuries of bravery, sacrifice, and glory.I hope to bring the fort’s spirit closer to every reader’s heart, just as it lives in mine.

Sinhagad - Lion's Fort

Though you are several centuries old,
You protect Pune from enemies cold.
Today, you appear broken from exteriority,
But a lion, even though crippled, has authority.

You were born through Sahyadri's womb,
With a purpose to make valour bloom.
"Kondhana " was your birth name,
As a strategic fort, you had too much fame.

You were young, you loved watching sunrise.
Indeed you were a star of every Punekar's eyes!
You didn't know the meaning of war.
So naive and innocent you were, so far!

But your destiny planned a different mystery,
It had chosen you to witness a glorious history!
Every ruler wanted you under his control,
Hoisting flag on you was everyone's goal!

Various flags were hoisted on your peak,
But your dearest was the one with orange streak.
Orange flag of Swarajya had a unique appeal,
For it had been stamped by Shivraya's seal!

"O Kondhana! Do you remember that time?"
When you always heard Swarajya's chime.
Those were the golden days of self rule,
When land was farmed with gold plough tool.

But these good days fell prey to evil eyes,
As Mughals wanted Deccan as a royal prize!
To avoid bloodshed and save his people,
Shivraya had to sign a treaty with the Mughal.

Mirza Raje Jaisingh took you as a Mughal entity,
With your twenty two brothers in the treaty.
Oh Kondhana! Your eyes were moist,
To see Imperial Mughal flag's cruel hoist,

You were now under Udaibhan's jurisdiction,
Kalyan Gate was guarded with full conviction.
You believed that nobody can save your people,
From the clutches of the imperial Mughal.

But then rose a mighty Maratha fighter,
With a fierce wish to make Swarajya brighter.
Tanaji Malusare was this brave warrior's name,
Who even left his son's wedding for your claim.

Brave Tanaji pledged to win you back,
But to succeed, he needed a clever hack.
Udaybhan expected an attack at Kalyan Gate,
So he armed it to seal Tanaji's fate.

You had a steep vertical cliff on one side,
A sheer, ruthless wall where hope itself died.
None ever dreamed an army could dare,
To climb that cliff and strike from there.

Yet courageous Tanaji, with a heart of flame,
Decided to spun a daring, timeless game.
He tied a rope to Yashwanti’s scale of blue,
A monitor lizard who would dare to scale you. 

With claws that clung to your rocky face,
Yashwanti climbed with tireless grace.
The rope was anchored, the path was laid,
Up your steep chest, the warriors made.

Hand over hand, they rose like a tide,
With spears and swords at their side. 
Tanaji stormed your walls from a hidden way,
You trembled by watching his fierce display.

You saw that Udaibhan came to a complete shock,
To know that Tanaji had indeed climbed that rock!
Both the enemies fought bravely, to claim you,
To prove you that they were warriors true!

Now you met fearless Tanaji, face to face,
Even with small army, he was fighting with grace.
Little did you know on that fateful date,
That he was the man born to change your fate.

You had seen Tanaji many a times before,
But on that night, you had to marvel more.
During that night, he was not a mere warrior,
He was a fierce lion, with a powerful roar!

You saw him wielding sword in one hand,
Maratha Lion had come to claim his lost land.
You wondered, when you saw his might,
Whether even God could defeat him, that night! 

You witnessed Maratha warriors getting wound,
All that you saw, their blood flowing all around.
Still, you didn't hear any cry or any quail,
Maharashtra had not taught her sons to wail. 

Your walls were able to hear only one line,
"Jai Bhawani , Jai Shivaji" slogan was divine!
Marathas fought even when outnumbered,
For which they will always be remembered.

You watched Tanaji's shield getting broken,
Yet he continued 'Har Har Mahadev' slogan!
You watched him using his turban as a shield,
His sheer power made all the enemies yield.

You were unable to count his hundred cuts,
You watched as blood spilled from his guts.
He hoisted flag on you with blood stained hand,
Maratha Lion had finally conquered his land!

You witnessed his eyes getting closed in peace,
For he had successfully fulfilled his promise! 
When Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj heard this,
Fort is won, but lion lost, were words of his.

'Sinhagad' aka Lion's Fort was a new honour,
Named after lion hearted Tanaji's valour.
This lion, changed your fate and your fame,
He died but he became immortal in your name!

Every grain of your soil holds a warrior's dream,
"Har Har Mahadev" echoes in every stream.
Your towering cliffs are a symbol of pride,
Where brave sons of motherland lived and died.

Dear Sinhagad, you always blow my mind,
You were the first fort which I got to climb.
You gave me this grand opportunity at age nine,
Your gates, allowing tiny footsteps of mine!

Blessed is your soil where heroes have tread,
You have raised immortals from the dead!
Oh Sinhagad, I am lucky to be born in your land,
I feel proud to write poem on you with my hand.