Pratapgad Fort

Pratapgad Fort, 20 km from Mahabaleshwar, is one of the most historically significant forts in Maharashtra. Built in 1656 on the orders of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj under his minister Moropant Pingle, the fort protected the strategic Par pass above the Koyna and Nira river valleys. It is famous as the site where Shivaji killed the Bijapur general Afzal Khan in 1659, an event commemorated by a large statue within the fort. The fort is spread across two levels, with the upper portion holding a Bhavani temple and the lower containing residence quarters, bastions and cisterns. The drive and short climb offer sweeping Sahyadri vistas.