Sinhagad Fort will undergo a proposed ₹9-crore conservation and visitor-access project that includes repairs to its entrances and walls, a 750-metre stone walkway and a museum dedicated to the fort’s history. The Archaeology Department has prepared the proposal, with funding planned through the District Planning Committee and the tendering process already initiated, District Collector Jitendra Dudi said.
A key part of the project is the improvement of the route between the fort’s parking area and the memorial of Tanaji Malusare. A stone walkway measuring approximately 750 metres is planned along this stretch to improve access for visitors approaching the memorial.
The proposal also covers repairs to the fort’s first three entrance gates. The work will include the stone steps on either side of the gates and the protective walls surrounding them. These structures form part of the primary visitor route into the historic hill fort and are among the elements identified for conservation.
The Archaeology Department has separately identified around 315 running metres of damaged fortification walls for repairs in a subsequent phase. The historic Devtake structure has also been included in the restoration plan. The source report did not specify the proposed timeline for completing these later works.
Visitor movement and access to historical information are another part of the proposal. Signboards explaining Sinhagad’s significance and directional markers are planned at different locations across the fort. According to the proposal, these installations will follow UNESCO guidelines, combining visitor navigation with information about the site’s heritage.
The project also proposes converting an old wada located behind the samadhi of Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj into a museum and interpretation centre. The facility is expected to use information panels, curated exhibitions and digital displays to present Sinhagad’s historical journey.
The proposed museum will retain the traditional wada-style architectural character of the existing structure, allowing the new visitor facility to blend with the historic setting. The plan therefore combines physical conservation with an attempt to make the fort’s history easier to understand for visitors.
The project comes as Sinhagad continues to function both as a major heritage site and as a visitor destination near Pune. Its implementation will depend on the tendering process and the subsequent execution of the conservation works. The immediate next step identified by the Archaeology Department is the completion of tendering for the proposed package.
