Saturday, September 26, 2015

Pratapgad Fort




Pratapgad is a magnificent fort situated in Maharashta, India. It is 1,080 meters above sea level. The fort was built by Moropant Trimbak Pingle on orders by the Maratha King Shivaji Maharaj. The legendary Battle of Pratapgad was fought at the fort in 1956. The hill is surrounded by Ghats and dense forests. The fort is well built and one can easily keep an eye for any enemy soldier trespassing. I've visited this fort twice. Once when i was about 10 years old and the second time recently. The nearest hill station is Mahabaleshwar which is about 23 kms from the fort.



Pratapgad Fort is divided into 2 parts namely the lower fort and upper fort. The upper fort was constructed upon the crest of a hill and is approximately 180 m long on each of its sides. The lower fort is sited at the southeast end of the fort, and is defended by tall towers which are 10-12 metres high

The place where guards watch out for enemy soldiers.


The Pratapgad fort is quite famous, various plays, movies and books have depicted the story of the Battle of Pratapgad and how Shivaji Maharaj killed Afzal Khan. Moreover it has been immortalized by adding chapters of this battle in the textbooks of school children. I had studied about the Maratha Empire in history subject during my school days, so witnessing this fort in person gave me an immense feeling of achievement.   

There are various shops near the entrance of the fort where they sell souvenirs, t-shirts, and books on the life of Shivaji Maharaj.

Sometimes i wonder how it would be like to live in the Shivaji era.



The best time to visit Pratapgad Fort and Mahabaleshwar is from October to June.
Distance from:
Mahabaleshwar : 23 kms
Mumbai: 104 kms

8 comments:

  1. Fantastic views of the fort. This is in my wish list.

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  2. Excellent capture on the fort and mountains around! The way fort built upon the mountains and ridges make feel awe...

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  3. Very interesting. I've never heard of this place so it was good to see it in your post. In the first photo it reminds me of some photos I have seen of portions of the Great Wall of China. I have not been there either but would love to go some day.

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  4. Thank you so much. Glad you liked it! :)

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  5. Hello, wonderful views of the fort. Looks like a great place to visit and explore. Enjoy your day!

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