Information on Pratapgad Fort (Satara, Maharashtra) - History & Architecture

Pratapgad fort is to be found in the Satara district, which is the state of Maharashtra. The fort is popularly famous for the tourist designation due to the importance of the site of the Battle of Pratapgad. The distance of the fort lies around 24km from the hill station, that of Mahabaleshwar. Through the fort the Coastal Konkan can also be seen.

From far, the fort seems like a crown on the hill. It gives an image of a round tipped hill with the walls for the lower fort. Later the manufacture of the fort was authorized by Shivaji and was completed by Moropant Pingale, who was the foremost Chief Minister, or who is also called as Peshwa of Maratha Empire.

The fort is positioned about 15 kms Poladpur and 22kms from Mahabaleswar, which are again the well known hill station of the same area. The fort is 1,080 meters rising from the sea level.

Pratapgad Fort Architecture

The Fort has been divided into two different parts, which is known as Upper and Lower Fort. The upper fort is built upon the summit of the hill, it is built in a rough square schedule with 180m in length, and the length of each side is equal. The upper fort assists with the ancient and permanent temple of Lord Mahadev or popularly known with his name Shivaji. The temple is found the northwest of the fort, and it is surrounded by Sheer cliff which is 250m drop of.

On the other hand the Lower part of the fort is 320m in the length and the width of 110m. This is found on the southeast part of the fort. The lower part of the fort is with the security or defence of towers and bastions which are approximately 10-12 meters in the total hight.

The Afzal Tower is extended elsewhere from that of the actual fort and it protects the approaching way to the fort. It is well thought out to be constructed after the war or battle of the Pratapgad, and to believe the head of Afzal Khan has been buried under the same ground of the tower.

Furthermore is has also come to believe the during that era, of 1661, Shivaji Raje was not able to visit goddess Bhavani temple which was located in Taljapur, therefore he thought of building the construction of the temple in the name of the Goddess, and dedicated the temple which can be positioned in the fort. Hence temple is to be found at the eastern side of the fort, the lower one. The temple's hall construction was rebuilt. The hall is structures with the pillars which are of the wood, and the pillars are about 50m in length and the broad is 30, although the height is 12m. The pilgrimage is built out of the stone, and the pilgrimage is given the portrait of the Goddess, which is found with the black clothe image, finished with the stone work. The top roof is however flat, although which has been covered with the small spire or even called Shikhar, which was located by Satara Raja Pratapsinha.

Pratapgad Fort History

The reason behind the construction of the Pratapgad Fort was to protect the banks of the Nira and Koyna rivers and also to defend the Par pass. The king of Maratha, Shivaji Maharaja especially paid Moropant Pingle, his Peshwa or the chief minister, to undertake the manufacture of the Pratapgad fort, for the purpose of the defense. However the manufacture got completed by the 10 November, in the year 1659.

The fort or the castle became the most well known and got the most important significance since the Battle of Pratapgad was fought which was a legend itself. The battle was between Afzal Khan and Shivaji, which occurred in the year of 1659, right after 3 years of its complete manufacture. The battle took place below the unconcealed part of the fort. Nevertheless Afzal Khan lost over Shivaji, as he had a strong force hold. This battle was regarded as the most significant test of the rising kingdom's security forces. However this laid the establishment of the Maratha Empire.

Pratapgad Fort Tourism Importance

The visitors to Mahabaleshwar, can have a day trip to the hill station, where the illustrious and legendry fort is located, just about 25kms away from the Mahabaleshwara.

The temple of Goddess Bhawani and the Tomb of Afzal Khan has always been the chief attraction of the visitor to the Pratapgad Fort in Mahabaleshwara. 17 feet high sculpture of Shivaji which is in bronze, as per the interest of the first Prime Minister of India, was veiled later on to the honor of the Maratha Empire. The guest dwellings and the national park built in 1960; within the fort property is also the huge attraction to the tourist.