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A 300-year-old fort near Pune throws open its doors... to tourists. Is Maharashtra going the Rajasthan way?

Written by Sunanda Mehta

Pune | September 2, 2006 12:00 AM IST

4 min read

AFTER Rajasthan, Maharashtra could well be the destination of choice when it comes to heritage tourism. About 20 km from Pune in Saswad, a 300-year-old fort dating back to the days of Chhatrapati Shivaji is undergoing frenzied restoration and renovation in the run-up to its November inauguration as a hotel.

This will be the first fort in Maharashtra to be converted into a hotel setting, in all probability, a trend for a state that boasts of more than 350 such martial structures.

8220;Most of the state8217;s many forts are not in good shape, mainly because the British made it a practice to destroy them after conquest as a symbolic gesture. Jadhavgadh is one of the rare forts to be well-maintained. In fact, till about 40 years ago, the family of Dada Jadhavrao, who owns the property, actually lived here,8221; says Vishal Kamat, executive director the Kamat Group of hotels, which has taken up the Rs 30-crore project.

To be named Orchid Heritage Jadhavgadh while on long lease from the family, the fort palace is being developed as a 100-room heritage hotel-cum-wedding venue.

Interestingly, the first expression of interest came from Dada Jadhavrao, who is now in his 70s. 8220;He approached my father, Kamat Group chairman Vithal Kamat, after reading his Marathi-language autobiography Idli, Orchid aani Mi. Apparently, the book convinced him that he was the right man to take care of his legacy,8221; says Vishal Kamat.

ONCE the deal was clinched, well-known Vadodara-based restoration architect Karan Grover was brought into the picture. 8220;The best thing you can do for an old building is not to restore or renovate it, but to find a contemporary use for it,8221; believes the architect who runs the the Heritage Trust, the first NGO in the world to promote and obtain a UNESCO World Heritage Site status for a place, Champaner in Vadodara.

8220;So when Vithal Kamat asked me to come and see the Jadhavgarh fort, I took along a team of eight professionals, including conservation architects and landscapers. We set up a workshop at the owner8217;s house itself and started with the feasibility study,8217;8217; says Grover.

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The feasibility study involved the flight of a toy aeroplane, fitted with cameras, over the fort. With the cameras connected to a laptop, the team busied itself over the next three days in projecting the images received on large screens and sketching on them then and there to get a complete picture of the work involved.

8220;In three days, we finalised the design, which broadly involved keeping the outer look of the fort intact, to the extent that even interior renovation would not be visible from the outside,8221; says Grover, who worked around the small hill, ancient banyan tree and waterbody that came with the 15-acre grounds.

THOUGH Kamat did not have to contend with any government permissions or rules and wrangles since the property was privately owned, the restoration of a heritage structure has its own set of difficulties. 8220;It calls for a great deal of sensitivity on the part of the restorers. In fact, rather than the owner requesting it, we were the ones to ask him to give us the premises only on the grounds that it be a conservation project. Our focus, too, was clear8212;the hotel aspect should not in any way overshadow the fort identity,8217;8217; adds Grover, who worked with well-known conservationist Radhika Dhumal on the project.

Interestingly, even as the Jadhavgadh hotel nears completion, the Kamat Group has been reportedly approached by the owners of two more forts in Maharashtra for similar projects.

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With a luxury train, the Deccan Odyssey, already doing a Palace on Wheels in Maharashtra, and now forts gearing up for renovation, the state8217;s heritage tourism card could well emerge as the ace in the pack.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More

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