Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the king of Marathas, wished to capture the strong and unconquerable Kondana fort, which was under the Mughal Emperor, Aurangazeb. Keeper of the Kondana was Udaybhan Rathor, a great warrior of the Mughals. Tanaji Malusare, the brave lion-hearted general of Shivaji Maharaj took the responsibility to fulfil his king’s wish.
Tanaji, with a few mavalas climbed up the fort at night with the help of ropes. He fought gallantly against the Mughals and conquered Kondana. Unfortunately Tanaji was killed in the battle. When Maharaj heard that heart-breaking news of the great warrior’s death, he expressed his grief and pain with the words – ‘I have won the fort but I have lost my lion.’ Since then the Kondana fort was called as ‘Sinhagadh.’