Yesterday, 15 February 2024, the news appeared in the local paper about a 2-days exhibition of medieval weapons in the Lal Mahal historic Mansion in Pune.
After lunch, I immediately boarded the city bus called PMT i.e. Pune Municipal Transport from near my home on Baner Road and deboarded at the PMC bus stop.
This was a rare opportunity to see the weapons from the medieval period used by the Maratha soldiers of Shivaji Maharaj and later by the army of the Peshwas.
In the photo below, from top-left are Chilanam, Bichwa, Peshkar, Vijay Nagari Katyar, Nair Talwar, Jambia, and Maratha Dhop.
Also on display were Ankush used for an Elephant-rider, Gupti, or a small secret knife, and the Vila, used mostly in the fields but rarely in warfare.
Following are Maratha Vakra Dhop and Vita Bhala or Spear.
The top attraction for me was the cannon balls.
Whereas stone balls are common, this exhibition had rare metal balls.
In the photo below, the right-most is a stone cannon ball, and the first three are metal cannon balls.
Below are Jalidar Muthichi Talwar, meaning sword with a netted grip, Mankari Talwar sword, Nair Talwar sword, Mughal Sword, Rajput Talwar sword, and the Tega sword.
In the photo below are Maratha Sword, Spear types, Aswakunt, Bichwa, Vita Sword, the most famous and dreaded Wagh Nakh, used by Shivaji Maharaj himself for killing the Turkic monster Afzal Khan, Maratha Katyar, Padkunt, Gajkunt, and the Maratha Katyar.
Below are Maratha Samsher Sword, Pattida, Dand Patta that was exclusively used by the Marathas in India, and also very difficult to operate, and finally Maratha Swords and shields.
The following are types of axes, Tabar, Vila, MAdu, Khanjarali, knives and Peshkabs.
The last exhibits were Jambia, small swords, Rajput Katyar, and Mughal Katyar.
Also on display were several paintings that depicted the various events in the life of the Maratha King Raja Shivaji.
Of these, the most famous instance is in the top-left corner where Raja Shivaji chopped off 3 fingers of the Mughal Tyrant Shaesta Khan when chasing him away from the Lal Mahal Mansion.
Shaesta Khan had encroached into the Lal Mahal mansion which was built by Shivaji as his home in Pune.
So, he launched a surprise attack in the middle of the night to chase the intruder away. Shaista Khan was the uncle of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
I am not sure if the paintings were part of the exhibition since I saw them for the first time since the last visit.
Entrance
There is no entry ticket. Simply walk in.
How to Reach
The Lal Mahal Mansion is easily reachable by bus and metro, with the PMC bus or metro station being the closest.
Hip Tip: With a 40 INR day pass you can travel all over Pune for an unlimited distance.
Where to Eat
There are plenty of food joints nearby though I recommend Ganesh Pure Veg Restaurant.
Nearby Attractions
Shaniwar Wada
Nana Wada
Kasba Ganapati Temple
Sri Trishunda Ganapati Temple