The 9th annual 2-kilometer cycling ride was held to honor the sacrifice of the second Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj on Sunday, March 23. Participants gathered at Bhakti Shakti Nigdi at 5 AM to begin the ride, which was organized by the Indo Athletics Society (IAS).
As the participants gathered, the cycling ride was flagged off by entrepreneur Gajanan Khaire of IAS, along with Ganesh Bhujbal and Ajit Patil.
The cyclists followed a route from Bhakti Shakti, passing through Nashik Fata, Charoli Fata, Alandi, and Tulpur, ultimately reaching Vadhu.
Tulapur and Vadhu Budruk
Tulpur, a village 27 kilometers from Pune, holds historical significance as the final resting place of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Tulpur, the Samadhi of Sambhaji Maharaj, is situated at the "Triveni Sangam," which is the meeting point of the Bhima, Bhama, and Indrayani rivers.
Historically, Tulpur is where Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was captured by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and brutally tortured. He was eventually executed in Tulpur, his mutilated body thrown into the River Bhima. The body parts were later found near Vadhu village, as per some historical records, where residents retrieved the remains stitched them together, and gave him a proper cremation, defying Aurangzeb’s orders.
Cyclists from all over Maharashtra, including Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Umbraj, Satara, Kolhapur, Ahmednagar, Narayangaon, Udgir, and Solapur, participated in the event, paying tribute to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The event was made possible through the planning efforts of Madan Shinde, Kailash Sheet Tapakir, Ajit Gore, Avinash Chougule, Pranay Kadu, Sunil Kulu, Kshitij Vidhate, Maruti Vidhate, Mandar Shende, Pradeepji Takte, and Dadasaheb Nakhate.
