Pratapgad

Pratapgad is a mountain fort located in Satara district, in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra. The fort is situated 24 kilometres from the Mahabaleshwar hill station. The fort is now a popular tourist destination.

Pratapgad
Satara district, Maharashtra, India
Pratapgad
View of one of the bastions of Pratapgad.
Pratapgad is located in Maharashtra
Pratapgad
Pratapgad
Coordinates17°56′10″N 73°34′39″E
TypeHill Fort
Height3543 feet [1][2]
Site information
Controlled by Maratha (1656-1818)
 United Kingdom  India (1947-present)
Open to
the public		Yes
Site history
Built1656
Built byChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj architect =hiroji indulkar
Battles/warsBattle of Pratapgad (1659)
EventsChatrapati Shivaji killed Afzal Khan in battle of Pratapgad (1659)[2]

The fort's historical significance is due to the Battle of Pratapgad, which took place here on 10 November 1659, between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Bijapur Sultanate general Afzal Khan.[3][4][5]

History
Main article: Battle of Pratapgarh

The Maratha ruler Shivaji assigned Moropant Trimbak Pingle, his prime minister, to undertake the construction of this fort in order to defend the banks of the Nira and the Koyna rivers, and to defend the Par pass. It was completed in 1656.[6][7]

The Battle of Pratapgad between Shivaji and Afzal Khan, a general of Adil Shahi dynasty, was fought below the ramparts of this fort on 10 November 1659. This was the first major test of the fledgling kingdom's army, and set the stage of the establishment of the Maratha empire.[3]

Pratapgad continued to be involved in regional politics. Sakharam Bapu Bokil, a well-known minister of Pune, was confined by his rival Nana Phadnis in Pratapgad in 1778. He was later moved from fort to fort until he died at Raigad. In 1796, Nana Phadnis, while escaping from the intrigues of Daulatrao Shinde and his minister Baloba, assembled a strong garrison in Pratapgad before heading to Mahad. In 1818, as part of the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Pratapgad was surrendered to the East India company.

Geography
Overview of the fort.

Pratapgad fort is located at 15 km (10 miles) from Poladpur and 23 km (15 miles) west of Mahabaleshwar, a popular hill station of Maharashtra. The fort stands 1080 metres (3543') above sea level and is built on a spur which overlooks the road between the villages of Par and Kinesvar.

The fort has a Tulja Bhawani temple from Chhatrapati Shivaji's time. It have murti of goddess Bhawani, which have eight hands (Marathi : Ashtbhuja). Weapons of soldiers are on display near this temple.

Tourism
Statue of Chatrapati Shivaji at Pratapgad, inaugurated by first prime minister of India Pratapgad is usually visited as a day-trip from the hill station of Mahabaleshwar, a popular tourist destination located 25 kilometres away.

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation provides regular bus service.[8] There are small shops, restaurants and a handicrafts store. Many schools also arrange educational trips to the fort. The fort is also on many trekking routes of the area.[9]

The fort has a large bronze equestrian statue of Shivaji.It was unveiled by Jawaharlal Nehru, then Prime Minister of India on 30 November 1957.[10][11][12][5] The same year a road was constructed by the Public Works Department from Kumbhrosi village up to fort. A guest house and a small park was built inside the fort in 1960.

See also

References
  1. "Pratapgad | District Satara, Government of Maharashtra, India | India". Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  2. "प्रतापगड किल्ला जिथे शिवाजी महाराजांनी केला होता अफजल खानाचा वध!". Lokmat (in Marathi). 19 February 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  3. "प्रतापगड किल्ला जिथे शिवाजी महाराजांनी केला होता अफजल खानाचा वध!". Lokmat (in Marathi). 19 February 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  4. "अफझलखानाच्या थडग्याच्या जागेचा वाद पुन्हा पेटणार; माजी आमदारानं दिला 'हा' इशारा". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  5. "Shivpratap Din : शिवरायांचा 'हा' प्रसंग आठवला, तर अंगावर काटा आल्याशिवाय राहणार नाही". eSakal (in Marathi). Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  6. "Pratapgad Fort". Satara District Gazetteer. Government of Maharashtra, Gazetteers Department. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
  7. Kantak, M. R. (1978). "The Political Role of Different Hindu Castes and Communities in Maharashtra in the Foundation of Chatrapati Shivaji's Swarajya". Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. 38 (1/4): 40–56. ISSN 0045-9801. JSTOR 42931051.
  8. Gunaji, Milind (2010). Offbeat tracks in Maharashtra (2nd ed.). Mumbai: Popular Prakashan. pp. 43–44. ISBN 9788179915783.
  9. Kapadia, Harish (2003). Trek the Sahyadris (5. ed.). New Delhi: Indus Publ. pp. 144–146. ISBN 9788173871511.
  10. "Video : प्रतापगडावरील शिवरायांच्या पुतळ्याचं नेहरुंच्या हस्ते झालं होतं अनावरण". eSakal (in Marathi). Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  11. Chowdhary, Charu (28 June 2019). "Pratapgad Fort: A Must-Visit on a Day Trip From Mahabaleshwar | India.com". www.india.com. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  12. "Go Offbeat When In Maharashtra". Outlook India. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
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