Battle of Sitabuldi
Sitabuldi Fort, a major tourist attraction in Nagpur, is situated on two hillocks: "Badi Tekri", literally meaning "big hill", and "Choti Tekri", meaning "small hill" in Hindi. The Sitabuldi hills, though then barren and rocky, were not entirely unoccupied. Tradition holds that Sitabuldi got its name from two Yaduvanshi brothers – Shitlaprasad and Badriprasad Gawali, who ruled the area in the 17th century. The place came to be known as "Shitlabadri", which during British rule became "Seetabuldee", and later assumed its current form, "Sitabardi" or "Sitabuldi". The Battle of Sitabuldi was fought in November 1817 on these hillocks between the forces of Appa Saheb Bhonsle of Nagpur and the British. After the death of Shivaji Maharaj on 3 April 1680, the Marathas continued the battle with Mughals (Aurangzeb), Sambhaji, Rajaram and then the Shahu (son of Sambhaji). the Maratha Empire was under the governance of the Peshwas of Pune under the Flagship of Chatrapati Shahu Satara, who had appointed the Gaekwads of Baroda, the Holkars of Indore, the Scindias of Gwalior, while theBattleground
The high ground of Sitabuldi is rocky and devoid of trees, so it was not possible to dig any entrenchments on the two hills in the available time. Choti Tekri, the northernmost of the two hillocks, is lower in height, but was within musket range of Badi Tekri, so securing that ground was considered essential. The suburbs of the city came close to Choti Tekri. ;British forces : A brigade of two Battalions of 20 and 24 Madras Native Infantry : Two companies of Native Infantry : Three troops of Bengal Native Cavalry : Four six-pounder guns marines by Europeans of the Madras Artillery : Resident Escorts (British Imperial Army) ;Disposition of British troops, 26 November 1817 * Chotti Tekri: 24 Battalion Madras Native Infantry with one 6-pounder gun * Badi Tekri: 20 Battalion Madras Native Infantry with two 6-pounder guns * Residency: Resident escorts, three troops of Bangal Native Cavalry, two infantry companies, and one 6-pounder gun ;Marathas forces : Infantry: About 18,000 troops : Cavalry: 2000 Maratha Cavalry : Artillery: 26 or 36 gunsBattle
Badi Tekri was occupied by about 800 men under Lieutenant Colonel Scott. About 300 men of the 24th Regiment under Captain Saddle were posted on Choti Tekri with one 6-pounder gun. On the other side of the hill, the suburbs gave cover to the Maratha troops, especially the Arabs, who throughout the day on 26 November were gathering in large numbers. The Arabs began the battle in the evening by opening fire on Choti Tekri. The engagement lasted until the early hours of the morning, when it slackened somewhat. Several times during the night the Arabs tried to capture the hill. Although they were repulsed, they inflicted heavy casualties. Captain Saddle was shot and killed. As the ranks of 24th Regiment were thinned, reinforcements were sent down from the 20th Regiment, who were occupying the upper hill. At dawn on 27 November, the British troops were still holding on in an isolated position. At 5:00 am, the few remaining men of the 24th Regiment, being utterly exhausted, were withdrawn. Their place was taken by the Residents Escorts, with orders to confine their defence to the summit of the lower hill. The fight continued until 9:00 the next morning, when the Arabs charged and captured the hill. They turned the captured gun against the higher hill position. The Maratha Cavalry and Infantry closed in from all sides and prepared for a general assault. The Arabs broke into the huts of the English troops and ransacked them. Some Maratha cavalry entered the residency compound. Captain Fitzgerald, in command of three troops of Bengal Cavalry and some horsemen of the resident escorts, had been requesting permission to charge, but his request was repeatedly turned down. Seeing the impending destruction, he made a last request. "Tell him to charge at his peril", Colonel Scott replied. "At my peril be it", said Captain Fitzgerald. He and his troops then charged some of the enemy cavalry, killed some of their supporting infantry, and captured their two guns. When the infantry posted on the hill witnessed this exploit, they became freshly animated. Just then an explosion of ammunition took place amongst the Arabs on the lower hill. The British troops rushed forward and pursued the Arabs down the hill, took two of their guns, and returned to their position. The Arabs rallied with the intention of attempting to recover the lost ground. As they were getting ready to come up, a troop of cavalry under Colonel Smith charged around the base of the hill, attacked the Arabs in the flank, and dispersed them. The British troops now advanced from the hill drove the infantry from the adjoining hills, and by noon the conflict was over. The British lost 367 killed and wounded, including 16 officers.During the British Raj
The Nagpur Subsidiary Force was cantoned at Sitaburdi. Large flat areaat north side of Sitaburdi hills was leveled and an arsenal for artillery and armament was built.Other units were quartered still north of it in what now called a Chhaoni area.Large areas were marked for tent lines, parade, bazaar, hospital and stables for cavalry. It was decided to build up a large arsenal as Nagpur was ideal place under British control south of Narmada. It would serve to all armies south and around Narmada. The central part of India was not surveyed in detail by then and only known good roads connected Nagpur to all direction.It was decided to establish another large cantonment on banks of river Kanhan near the village Kamathi.The huts which were present before the battle of Sitaburdi on the east of the hill were burned down on the night of 26th November 1817. Reconstruction was not allowed. The houses in the Mainabai’s peth had afforded protection to the attacker Arabs. Hence it was decided to clear that area of all structures so that any attack from that direction would be exposed to fire from the hill fort. The whole area was cleared. Raghuji III, the adopted son of Durgabai widow of Parsoji, died on 11th December 1853 at about 6am after an illness lasting one month. 47 minute guns were fired from Sitaburdi fort equal to his age in years. British soldiers who died in the battle of Sitabuldi were buried in graves in the fort. Mahatma Gandhi is said to have been imprisoned in the fort from 10 April to 15 May 1923, this however, is not true as Gandhi was in Yerwada during this period. King George V and Queen Mary of the United Kingdom gave audience to the people of Nagpur from the fort during their visit to British India. A pillar to commemorate the event stands in the fort. The royals were greeted by a huge crowd gathered at the area towards the present Nagpur Railway Station.Current status
In 2019 118 TA Battalion stationed here was moved to Bhusawal to make place for Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat (UMANG) Sub-Area Headquarters of the Indian Army. UMANG Sub-Area Headquarters had shifted from Mumbai to Nagpur in 2018. Since then, it was stationed in Command Works Engineer (CWS) office. The CWS unit was shifted to Sitabuldi Fort where 118 TA Battalion was earlier located.See also
* List of forts in MaharashtraReferences
{{Coord, 21, 8, 54, N, 79, 5, 6, E, type:landmark, display=title Buildings and structures of the Maratha Empire Buildings and structures in Nagpur Indian Army bases History of Nagpur Tourist attractions in Nagpur Forts in Vidarbha