Pratapgad Fort Maharashtra information in English

 Pratapgad Fort Maharashtra information in English 

Pratapgad Fort Information: 

“ Pratapgad is a hill fort in the Sahyadri Mountains known as the fortress of valor”

• Pratapgad Fort Location: 

This fort is located some distance from the cool place of Mahabaleshwar in Satara district of Maharashtra state. 

When Chhatrapati Shivaji conquered Jawali, there was a remote Bhorpya mountain in the forest there. In this place, surrounded by forests that were difficult to reach, Chhatrapati Shivaji built this fort in 1656 AD under the supervision of Moropant Pingle. From this, the historical background of this fort goes back to the seventeenth century. 

• Height: 

The average height of Pratapgad is 1080 meters / 3556 feet. 

• Pratapgad has 475 steps. 

• Since this fort was built in the seventeenth century, its fortifications and other structures are still in good condition. 

• Pratapgad Fort: 

Built in the Shivajiraje era, i.e. in the 17th century, the fort's fortifications are very strong and its northwest elevation is more than 800 feet. 

If you take a photo of Pratapgad with a drone, it looks like a butterfly. 

There is a road to reach this fort. And this fort is easy to climb. 

• Route to reach Pratapgad Fort: 

The distance from Satara to Pratapgad is 87 km. 

The distance from Pune to Pratapgad is 150 km. 

• In the Satara district of Maharashtra, from the cool place of Mahabaleshwar to the west, after going through the Ambenali Ghat, Pratapgad is at a fork. You can go directly to the fort through that route. You can park your car at the fort's parking lot and walk a little. You can reach Pratapgad Fort. 

• The second route is from Poladpur on the Mumbai-Goa highway in the Konkan region, a fork goes west through the Ambenali Ghat to Mahabaleshwar, and if you continue along that path, you will come to the above-mentioned fork of Pratapgad. Through it, you can reach Pratapgad.

Places to visit at Pratapgad: 

• Pratapgad Mahadarwaja: 

After walking a little from the base of the vehicle and climbing 96 steps, you will come across a structure with a strong armored tower with a cow's face. There is a magnificent gate that even a tall elephant can pass through, it is the Mahadarwaja of Pratapgad. The importance of this gate is that here, this gate is still opened at sunrise in the Shiva era style. And it is closed at sunset. The placement of this gate is in the cow's face style. Cow's face means the view of a cow looking back while feeding a calf while licking it. Many gates on the Shiva era fort are built in this way. Due to this, the enemy's cannons cannot be hit directly at the gate. Also, a quick collective attack could not be carried out. 

After going inside the gate, you will see the deodras built for the guards to rest. There is a Shiva era cannon. And a lotus-shaped sculpture made to keep the torch used to light it can be seen on a stone with a hole in the middle. 

• Bhavani Mata Temple Old Road and Nagarkhana: 

After entering through the Maha Darwaza, a little further on, an arch-like door structure is seen. This is the old road to the old Bhavani Mata Temple. This road was open until 1957. But now it has fallen into disrepair and is now closed for security reasons. From here onwards, the remains of the Nagarkhana buildings can be seen. During Shiva's time, musical instruments were played in Nagarkhana every day so that Bhavani Devi would be pleased and her blessings would remain on Swarajya.

Pratapgad Lake:

After passing through the main door, you climb a few steps and at a bend you come across a beautiful lake below the path. Stones were excavated from this place during the construction of Pratagad. And so a lake was formed here. For this, water is first inspected on rainy days and waited for. And accordingly low places were selected and excavated. It used to achieve both the purpose of pond creation and construction.

• Bhawanidevi Temple :

 After walking up the steps from the Mahadarwaja, entering the fortified building through an arched doorway, there is a temple of Bhavani Devi. Tuljabhavani is the deity of Chhatrapati Shivarai and her counterpart is the temple. This temple has a beautiful assembly hall and a wide courtyard. The Shaligram stone used to make the idol of the goddess in this temple was brought from the Gandaki river in Nepal. This beautiful holy idol was made from that rock and consecrated and installed here.

This temple has a crystal-shaped Shivalinga. Chhatrapati Shivarai used to worship him. There is also a sword in this place. It is believed to belong to General Hambir Rao Mohite. It shows some signs of moonlight. A Chandni is a sign of killing a hundred enemies. One can see a sword with five moons.

• Hanuman idol: 

After going further from Bhavani temple, there is a Hanuman idol. It is believed to have been installed by Samarth Ramdas Swami. 

• Balekilla: 

After going further from Bhavani temple, you will come across another door. It is the Balekilla door. From here you can go to Balekilla. You can see the Kedareshwar temple, Shiva statue, and lake, tower there. 

• Kedareshwar temple: 

After entering the Balekilla door, after climbing the stairs, you will come across a temple, the Kedareshwar temple. While constructing the temple of Bhavani Devi here, a magnificent Shivling was found while digging here. Then the same Shivling was installed here, which is the Kedareshwar temple. 

• Palace ruins: 

Near Kedareshwar temple, you can see the ruins of some buildings. They are the ruins of palaces during the Shiva era. Chhatrapati Shivaji as well as other officers and Rajmata Jijabai also lived here. Ashtapradhan Mandal meetings were held here. 

• Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji: 

In the upper part of the fort, we can see a magnificent statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji. This statue of Shivaji on horseback is 20 feet high and its height is 16 feet. This statue is 36 feet high in total. Its weight is four and a half tons and it is made of bronze. It was brought here in the form of parts. Hearing this, 17 parts were brought here and joined and this statue was made. 

The then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, himself came to unveil it. 

This is considered the most sacred place. 

There is a government rest house nearby.

There are ruins of many buildings near this Shiva statue. If you walk along the edge of the nearby rampart from there, you can see the thief's gate at some distance. It is now closed for security reasons. At that time, if the enemy entered the fort, he could exit through this thief's path. 

• Watchtower / Shiv Pratap Tower: 

After coming back down from the fort, an armored tower is seen in front. It is the Shiv Pratap Tower. The saffron flag is always seen flying there. This tower, which is in very good condition, testifies to the prowess of Chhatrapati Shivaji. A path can be seen from both sides under this tower. It was built at that time for watch. 

• There are three towers on Pratapgad: 

• Surya Tower: There is a Surya Tower adjacent to the road leading to Pratapgad. 

• Yashwant Tower: This tower can be seen behind the Shiva statue in the fort. 

• Redka Tower: It is connected to the fort. It is a triangular tower like the mouth of a redka. 

The towers are very useful for monitoring the fort. These towers work to strengthen the weak side of the fort. 

• Sidewall: There is also a sidewall on Pratapgad. From which, if any enemy who was hostile to Swarajya was found, he was pushed down from this sidewall.

• Afzal Khan Tomb :

Afzal Khan, who came with the dream of capturing Chhatrapati Shivarai, was captured by Shivajiraj at the foot of this Pratapgarh. His grave is at this place. We can clearly see this tomb from the Shiv Pratap tower.

It is located at a distance from Pratapgad on one side on the way to Pratapgad.

Along with this, you can see many small and big doors and secret passages.

• Many nobles and chieftains from Shivakala lived on this fort. We get to see many of his descendants. People can still be seen here. Accommodation is also available.

• Historical events at Pratagad:

• Shivaraya conquered Jawli from the possession of Chandrarao More of Jawli. Then there was an inaccessible mountain of Bhorpya in the valley of this Jawli. Shiv Raya spied it and decided to build a fort there.

• On the order of Chhatrapati Shivarai, Moropant Pingale built this fort under his supervision and completed it in the year 1656 AD.

• Historical Events:

• The first major crisis in Shivarai's Swaraj work was Afzal Khan's invasion. Adilshah Sardar Afzal Khan of Bijapur marched on Shiv Raya with an army of 20000 cavalry, 15000 infantry, 1500 gunners, 80 guns, 1200 camels, 85 elephants.

• At that time Shiva Raya had only 6000 cavalry, 3000 infantry, 4000 reserve infantry.

• On his way, he destroyed the sacred places of Hindus at Pandharpur, Tuljapur, Shikhar Shingnapur and came to Vai. He worked here for twelve years.

Then Shivaraya decided to settle Afzal Khan with his wisdom. And after consulting Rajmata Jijabai and other Sardars, they went directly to Pratapgad from Rajgad.

Both sides discussed and decided to meet and make peace. 

For this, a meeting was arranged in the beautiful Shyamian area of the loft on Pratapgad. It was decided to bring only ten bodyguards. 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Khan knew that he was a traitor. Shivaji put on armor and put on a tunic. He put a cap on his head and built a temple on it. He hid a tiger's claw in his left finger and a beech in the palm of the same hand. 

During the meeting, Khan tried to betray him. He stabbed him with a sword. Then Shivaji removed his bag with the help of a tiger's claw and a beech. And he told the other Mavlas to hide in the bushes in the forest on the way. He wiped out the entire Khan's army. 

At this time, Sambhaji Kavji cut off the heads of Afzal Khan. They are buried in a gate tower on Rajgad. 

Pratapgad is a testimony to such valor. 

On the day that Afzal Khan was killed, on November 9, 1659, that day is celebrated every year as Shiv Pratap Din. 

After this, a large treasure and weapons stockpile came to Swarajya. And the foundation of Swarajya was strengthened. 

Both sides discussed and decided to meet and make peace. 

For this, a meeting was arranged in the beautiful Shyamian area of the Machi on Pratapgad. It was decided to bring only ten bodyguards. 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Khan knew that he was a traitor. Shivaji put on armor and put on an tunic. He put a turban on his head and built a temple on it. He hid a tiger's claw in his left finger and a beech in the palm of the same hand. 

During the meeting, Khan tried to betray him. He stabbed him with a dagger. Then Shivaji removed his bag with the help of a tiger's claw and a beech. And he had told the other Mavalas to hide in the bushes in the forest on the way. He wiped out the entire Khan's army. 

At this time, Sambhaji Kavji brought the beheaded head of Afzal Khan. It is buried in a gate tower on Rajgad. 

Pratapgad is a testimony to such prowess. 

The day on which Afzal Khan was killed, i.e. 9 November 1659. That day is celebrated every year as Shiv Pratap Din. 

After this, a large treasure and weapons stockpile came to Swarajya. And the foundation of Swarajya was strengthened.

During the reign of Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj, a battle with Kakar Khan was fought at this foothill in 1689 AD. 

Rajaram Maharaj showed great valor in this battle. 

• From 1656 AD to 1818 AD, this fort remained in Swarajya except for a few months. 

• In 1818 AD, the Third Anglo-Maratha War took place. In this, the Marathas were defeated. After that, this fort came under the control of the British. 

• After independence, in 1957 AD, a magnificent 36-foot-tall equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji was unveiled at this fort by the then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. 

Pratapgad is the heroic fort of Shivaji, which is located at the place where such a grand glory of Swarajya took place and was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji himself. 

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Pratapgad Fort.

Pratapgad Fort Maharashtra information in English