What is battle of pawankhind?

The Battle of Pawan Khind was fought on 13th January 1659 between the Maratha forces of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Mughal forces led by Jai Singh I. The battle took place in the ghats near Pune, India.

The Marathas had taken refuge in the fort of Panhala after they were defeated by the Mughals in the Battle of Kolhapur. The Mughals then laid siege on the fort and the Marathas were running out of food and supplies. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj then decided to make a daring attempt to break through the Mughal forces and escape to safety.

The Marathas were heavily outnumbered but they had the advantage of the terrain. They chose a narrow pass in the ghats known as Pawan Khind, where only a few soldiers could pass at a time. Shivaji and his select band of soldiers rode horses and elephants, disguised as a wedding procession. They took the Mughal forces by surprise and were able to break through their lines.

The battle was a decisive victory for the Marathas and they were able to escape to safety. The Mughals suffered heavy losses and were unable to capture Shivaji Maharaj. This battle is considered as one of the most important victories of the Marathas against the Mughals and is celebrated as “Shivaji Jayanti” in Maharashtra every year.