Pratapgad

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Pratapgad is a large fort located in Raigad district, in the state of Maharashtra in India.
Significant as the site of the Battle of Pratapgad, the fort is now a popular tourist destination.
History
The Maratha king Shivaji commissioned 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.
The Battle of Pratapgarh between Shivaji and Afzal Khan was fought below the rampants of this
fort on November 10, 1659. This was the first major test of the fledgling kingdom's army, and set
the stage of the establishment of the Maratha empire.
Pratapgad continued to be involved in regional politics. Sakharam Bapu, 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 finally 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 surrendered by private negotiation.
This was a great loss to the Maratha forces, as Pratapgad was an important stronghold, had a
large garrison, and could annoy much of the country round Wai.
A 17-foot high equestrian bronze statue of Shivaji was unveiled by Jawaharlal Nehru, then Prime
Minister of India, on the 30th November 1957, the same year a road was constructed by the
Public Works Department from Kumbhrosi village up to fort. A guest house and a national park
were built inside the fort in 1960.
The fort is currently owned by Udayan Raje Bhosale, the heir of the Satara princely state.
Structure
The fort can be divided into the lower fort and upper fort.
The upper fort was built upon the crest of the hill. It is roughly square, 180m long on each side.
It has several permanent buildings, including a temple to the god Mahadev. It is located at the
northwest of the fort, and is surrounded by sheer cliffs with drops of up to 250m.
The lower fort is around 320m long and 110m wide. It is located at the southeast of the fort, and
is defended by towers and bastions ten to twelve metres high.
The Afzul tower extends out from the fort proper and defends the approach to the fort. It is said
to have been constructed after the Battle of Pratapgad, and Afzul Khan's head is said to be buried
under the tower.
In 1661, Shivaji was unable to visit the temple of the goddess Bhavani at Tuljapur. He decided to
dedicate a temple to the goddess at this fort itself. This temple is on the eastern side of the lower
fort. The hall has been rebuilt since the original construction, and consists of wooden pillars
about 50' long, 30' broad and 12' high. The shrine is made of stone, and contains a clothed black
stone image of the goddess. The roof of the temple is flat inside, but covered in lead covering put
up by the Satara Raja Pratapsinh (1818-1839). A small spire or shikhar covers the shrine.