Shaniwar Wada

Shaniwar Wada was the seat of the Peshwas, the powerful prime ministers of the Maratha Empire, and once the centre of Indian political power in the 18th century. Though a great fire in 1828 destroyed much of the wooden palace within, its massive fortification walls and grand gateways still stand as a proud symbol of Pune.

The imposing Delhi Gate, studded with anti-elephant spikes, and the palace's dramatic (and reputedly haunted) history make it an atmospheric window into the Maratha era. An evening sound-and-light show brings the story alive.

• ›The spiked Delhi Gate and the fortified ramparts.
• ›The foundations and gardens within the walls.
• ›The evening sound-and-light show on Maratha history.

Much of the interior palace is gone — it's the walls, gates and history you come for. It anchors Pune's old city, near lively markets and temples.