Pratapgad

Those of you, who are interested in Maratha heritage and history, should definitely visit the Pratapgad Fort. It is truly incredible. This is a mountain fort that is located about half an hour from Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra. This fort was constructed by Shivaji Maharaj. There are actually two forts here. At the top of the hill you will find the upper fort, and below this on the east and south, there is a lower fort. This is the place where the famous “battle of Pratapgad” was fought between Afzal Khan and Shivaji. The Maratha forces won, even though they were outnumbered. Pratapgad Fort and the battle fought here holds special significance among historians, as this is the first important military victory over a major power.

Do you remember the interesting story of Shivaji embracing Afzal Khan, and Khan trying to stab him in the back? Shivaji knew before that he would try to do something like this, and so wore armor for the meeting. Shivaji was able to take out a sharp weapon that was kept concealed within his fingers to stab Khan. Well, this happened here at Pratapgad Fort. You can see the exact spot where it occurred.

The Pratapgad Fort is very close to Pune and Mahabaleshwar, a popular hill station in Maharashtra. A lot of tourists who visit Mahabaleshwar come to this fort as well. But it is really such an important fort that this can be a weekend destination all by itself. It is a perfect weekend getaway. The view from the top is good too. You will be able to see the Konkan coast to the west. To the east is the Kineshvar range.

How to reach: The state transport buses between Mumbai and Pune leave frequently. Take one of them. Train services are also available. But do remember, you need to get down at Vir Dasgaon, which is about an hour’s journey from the fort. You can drive to reach the Pratapgad Fort too.

There are no accommodation options at Pratapgad Fort. No, you won’t find any resorts in Pratapgad, or cottages in Pratapgad. The best option is to stay in Mahabaleshwar.