Pune’s Velhe taluka renamed Rajgad

“I take pride in being a Mavala of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and as Revenue Minister, this decision brings me immense joy. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj governed from this very fort. This decision, tied to our historical legacy, is a moment of pride for the 140 million people of Maharashtra. I extend my special thanks to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for this,” Bawankule said.

He also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar for facilitating the process.

The renaming of Velhe taluka comes after a series of similar changes in names of cities and districts Maharashtra. In 2022, Aurangabad was officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Osmanabad became Dharashiv and Ahmednagar was renamed Ahilyanagar. Each of these moves, the state government argued, was intended to reinforce historical and cultural identities.

The demand to rename Velhe taluka after Rajgad Fort dates back several years. In November 2021, 58 of the 70 gram panchayats in the taluka, along with the Pune Zilla Parishad, passed resolutions supporting the proposal. Following this, the state government issued a notification on March 16, 2024, inviting objections. Officials said that no objections were received, clearing the way for the final approval.

The Revenue Department confirmed that the Union Home Ministry’s clearance in May 2025 paved the way for Thursday’s announcement. The government said the official gazette notification will be published within the next two days.

Rajgad Fort, located in the Sahyadri ranges about 60 km from Pune, holds a central place in Maratha history. It was from here that Shivaji Maharaj consolidated power and laid the foundations of the Maratha empire. The fort served as his capital for more than 25 years before the shift to Raigad. For local residents, renaming the taluka after Rajgad is seen as a symbolic restoration of its historic identity.

A Velhe resident and gram panchayat member said, “Rajgad is not just a fort. It is the cradle of Swarajya. Naming our taluka after it is a matter of pride for us and ensures that future generations remain connected to Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy.”