# Pratapgad Fort > Pratapgad Fort near Mahabaleshwar: built 1656, site of the 1659 Afzal Khan encounter, a UNESCO site. About 400–500 steps from parking, open 6 am–6 pm, free. - Location: Satara, Pune division, Maharashtra, India - Difficulty: easy (scale: easy, moderate, challenging, technical) - timings: About 6 am to 6 pm, every day - Time: 20 to 40 minutes from the parking to the top - steps: About 400 to 500 steps from the parking - height: About 1,080 m (3,540 ft) above sea level - Starts at: Parking below the fort, on the Mahabaleshwar–Poladpur road - Fees: No entry fee; paid parking - Good for: Families, a half-day trip from Mahabaleshwar, history lovers - Best time: October to February - By public transport: MSRTC buses from Mahabaleshwar; shared and private taxis from Mahabaleshwar bus stand - Distance from Pune: About 145 km - Distance from Mumbai: About 210 km - Last updated: 2026-11-08 - Source: https://trekmaharashtra.com/pratapgad-fort/ **Pratapgad, 24 km from Mahabaleshwar, is the fort where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj defeated Afzal Khan in 1659, and one of the 12 UNESCO World Heritage forts.** It stands about 1,080 m high over the Koyna valley. From the parking it is a 20 to 40 minute climb of about 400 to 500 steps. It is open from about 6 am to 6 pm with no entry fee, and is best from October to February. ## Why Pratapgad matters Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had Pratapgad built in **1656**, soon after he took the Javali valley. His minister **Moropant Trimbak Pingle** oversaw the work. It was placed to watch the **Par pass**, a key route between the Deccan and the Konkan, and the forested slopes of the Koyna valley. Three years later the fort faced its great test. In 1659 the Adil Shahi court of Bijapur sent its general **Afzal Khan** with a large army to end the young Maratha state. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj drew him deep into the thickly forested Javali country below Pratapgad. On **10 November 1659** the two met at a pavilion below the fort. Afzal Khan was killed in the encounter, and the Maratha forces waiting in the forest then routed his army. It made Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's name known across India. Maharashtra marks the day as **Shiv Pratap Din**. In July 2025 UNESCO inscribed Pratapgad as one of the [12 forts](https://trekmaharashtra.com/unesco-world-heritage-forts-maharashtra/) of the "Maratha Military Landscapes of India". It is the only one classed as a **hill-forest fort**, because the forest around it was as much a part of its defence as its walls. ## How to reach Pratapgad Pratapgad is on the road from **Mahabaleshwar** down to **Poladpur** and the Mumbai–Goa highway. - **From Mahabaleshwar:** about 24 km, 45 minutes, via the Ambenali ghat road. Taxis wait at the Mahabaleshwar bus stand, and MSRTC buses run to the fort. - **From Pune:** about 145 km, 3.5 to 4 hours, via Wai and Mahabaleshwar. - **From Mumbai:** about 210 km, 5 hours, via the Mumbai–Goa highway to Poladpur and up the ghat. The road ends at a parking area just below the fort. ## The climb From the parking, a stepped path of about **400 to 500 steps** leads through the main gate into the lower fort and on up to the upper fort. Most people take **20 to 40 minutes**. It is easy for anyone reasonably fit; take it slowly with children and older family members. Small stalls along the way sell buttermilk, lemon water and snacks. ## What to see on Pratapgad The fort has two parts: a **lower fort** on the southern and eastern terraces, and an **upper fort** on the crest. - **Bhavani temple:** in the lower fort. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj installed the image of the goddess Bhavani, the family deity of the Bhosales, in 1661. It is the most visited spot on the fort. - **Kedareshwar temple:** a Shiva temple in the upper fort. - **The equestrian statue:** a bronze statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on horseback in a garden in the upper fort, unveiled by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on **30 November 1957**. - **Afzal Buruj:** a bastion on the edge of the fort. Tradition holds that Afzal Khan's head was buried beneath it. - **The walls and bastions:** walk along them for views across the Koyna valley, the Javali forest and, on clear days, Raigad and the Konkan. - **Afzal Khan's tomb:** below the fort, at the place of the 1659 encounter. In November 2022 the authorities removed unauthorised structures that had been built around it, on a court order; the tomb itself was left untouched. Plan **1.5 to 2 hours** on top. ## Tips for your visit - **Combine it with Mahabaleshwar.** Pratapgad is an easy half-day from Mahabaleshwar or Panchgani; go in the morning before the cloud comes in. - **10 November (Shiv Pratap Din)** brings large crowds and celebrations to the fort. - **Carry a light jacket** from November to January; the top is windy. - **In the monsoon,** the ghat roads are beautiful but foggy. Drive slowly and avoid the steps after heavy rain. ## Places near Pratapgad **Mahabaleshwar** and **Panchgani** are close by. **Raigad** is a long but scenic drive down the ghat via Poladpur. Further afield, **Ajinkyatara** in Satara and **Kas Plateau**, famous for its monsoon flowers, make good additions to a Satara trip. ## Questions people ask ### Why is Pratapgad Fort famous? Below Pratapgad, on 10 November 1659, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj met and killed Afzal Khan, the Bijapur general sent to crush him, and the Maratha army then routed the Bijapur forces. The day is marked in Maharashtra as Shiv Pratap Din. ### Who built Pratapgad Fort? Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had it built in 1656 under his minister Moropant Trimbak Pingle, to guard the Par pass and the Koyna valley. ### What are Pratapgad Fort timings? About 6 am to 6 pm, every day. ### Is there an entry fee for Pratapgad Fort? No. Entry is free; you pay only for parking. ### How many steps are there at Pratapgad? About 400 to 500 steps from the parking area to the upper fort. Most people take 20 to 40 minutes. ### How far is Pratapgad from Mahabaleshwar? About 24 km, roughly 45 minutes by road via the Ambenali ghat road. ### When was the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Pratapgad unveiled? The bronze equestrian statue was unveiled on 30 November 1957 by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. ### Is Pratapgad a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Yes. It is one of the 12 forts of the 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India', inscribed on 11 July 2025, and the only one classed as a hill-forest fort.