Shaniwarwada fort, Pune : Pune has 25 forts, more than 100 rock cut caves and 125 ancient temples. The Peshwa fort's construction was started and completed on a Saturday. So it is named as Shaniwarwada. The fort has five entrances, four cannons, water reservoirs, palace in ruins (foundation), good fountains, bathing tubs, Durbar hall etc and is rectangular in shape. The fort is well preserved and there is wall paintings near the main gate. Above the main gate, there is a balcony made of wood with carvings.
Balaji Bajirao (1740 -1761) the third Peshwa constructed the Diwan Khana (Main hall of audience) for celebrating Ganapati festival in 1755. Later on Nana Phadanwis, Prime minister to Sawai Madhavrao (1774 -1795), constructed a few more rooms. Captain Moor who visited Pune when Peshwa's power was at its height described the splendour of this hall. He had seen more than a hundred dancing girls in the palace at one time.
