Popular for its glorious and sad history: TULAPUR

When was the last time you went to a place after reading about its intriguing past? Let me know the answer once you have completed reading this article.

It is well-known that Pune is surrounded by many places which are only a couple of hours' drive from the city or are within the city. Hence, before this lockdown, almost all the weekends were pre-planned, either for family picnics or bike rides with friends. Everyone is just imagining what life would be like if the lockdown were not a part of our lives. This monsoon, we would have taken at least 2 bike rides, one short trip to Lonavala, or driving around the city hogging on some chai-pakoras at the famous eateries.

But there is more to this city's culture and history. Gripping, nail-biting, and craving for your full attention to know and read about the places that experienced some incidents that bring tears to your eyes and make you think about the lives of those ancient times. And trust me on this one, it will push you to ponder how people survived those difficult times. I would want you to read about a place named Tulapur, Maharashtra.

Folks who are aware of Tulapur surely know about two prominent historical occurrences. One is glorious, and the other one is heart-wrenchingly sad. I am sure you would love to read more about it.

Image source: https://www.aroundpune.com/place/tulapur/

Tulapur has a culturally rich history dated in the 17th century. This place decorates itself with blankets of green shades in the monsoon season as it is blessed with 3 rivers. You can see the Triveni Sangam of the Bhima-Bhaga-Indrayani River. Tula means weighing. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's father, Shahaji Raje Bhosale, had weighed gold equal to the weight of a baby elephant on this Triveni Sangam. Hence this village was named "Tulapur."

There is an ancient Shiv temple named Sangameshwar on this riverbank. You should visit this place to admire the architecture. It is said that the Sangameshwar temple was repaired by Adil Shah's Wajir Murar Jagdev. This place witnessed the great warriors making it sacred and divine.

Image source: https://www.whatshot.in/pune/not-just-your-regular-tourist-spot-tulapur-near-pune-has-a-rich-but-tragic-history-c-25351

Earlier, I mentioned the sorrowful history of Tulapur. On 11th March 1689, a day before Gudi Padwa, celebrated as Hindu New Year, was a dark day in history. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was brutally killed by Aurangzeb. He was tortured for many weeks, and his body was cut into pieces. All the body parts were scattered, and no one could cremate his dead body. A great warrior who had fought for his people had to undergo an end like this. No one could imagine the amount of pain and suffering he had in his last moments.

Whenever you Google search about Tulapur, all details of this incident are mentioned on various websites. YouTube also has some videos explaining that gruesome act. It was a controversial and extremely sad episode.

Tulapur is approximately 40 kilometers from Pune. There are public transport buses to visit this place. Let me know if you plan to visit Tulapur after this lockdown, and I would love to join you. Mark these 3 places on your list: Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's Samadhi, Triveni Sangam, and Sangameshwar Temple.

Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulapur

This place is a perfect blend for history lovers and photographers. You can capture the architecture of the temples and immerse in some thoughtful moments while visiting the samadhi.

Let us not limit our love for travel to picturesque and touristy places; Pune has so much to offer that deserves our attention and respect.