Pratapgad Fort
Roaring Tiger of Sahyadri
Pratapgad fort is one of the many forts situated across
sahyadri mountain range in Maharashtra. Pratapgad fort is situated in Jaoli
tehsil of the satara district. The fort is surrounded by dense forest of well
famous jaoli region. This fort is having very important historical significance
and it is one of the key fort of the Maratha Empire.
Pratapgad fort is situated on side of the ambenali
ghat section which connects mahabaleshwar of the Satara region to the poladpur
of the konkan region. It is nearly 20 km away from the mahableshwar, 70km away
from the Satara city and 150km away from pune. Fort is open from 6:00 am in the
morning to the 7:00 pm in the evening on all days through the year. Also, one
can take pratapgad darshan bus from the mahableshwar which gives the whole tour
of the fort in 110 rupees only with return trip included in the package.
History of the Fort
Back in Swarajya’s time, Jaoli region was ruled by
the more clan of the Maratha caste. However, their rule was not mannered
according to the Chatrapati’s rule. More’s behaviour was not in favour of the
common people living in the jaoli region. However, even after many calm warnings
given by the shivaji maharaj to the chandrarao more, he refuses to add his
kingdom to the Swarajya and continued the injustice on the public of the
region. He was having overconfidence on his dense forest region which is nearly
impossible to win by the external powers. Tired of more’s behaviour, Shivaray
decides to take jaoli into our own hands. Making the very great strategy,
shivaji maharaj conquered jaoli region from the present chandrarao and
chandrarao more went to the rairy fort in konkan region. Shivaray however,
captured rairy fort and killed chandrarao more and renamed fort as Raigad as
choosed it for the new capital and gave contract to rebuild and renovate the
fort to the hiroji indulkar.
Chatrapati shivaji maharaj conducted a small
Rajyabhishek ceremony in the heart of the jaoli as the new king of the jaoli. Also,
Maharaj marrage took place in Jaoli with Lakshmibai Vichare. People of jaoli state
was very happy and warmed due to his rule.
However, the time was about to change. Adilshahi asked
his sardars to attack Maharaja’s territory and to place adilashah’s rule all
over. Afzal khan one of the powerful statesman of the adilshah accepted the
challenge to conquer swarajya and add it to the adilshahi. Afzal khan marched
towards swarajya and he decided to stay in Wai region. Also, here in swarajya,
Shivray decided to leave the rajgad fort and leaved for pratapgad fort because jaoli
region was the shield of the swarajya to fight with Afzal khan. After many
discussions happens between shivaji maharaj and Afzal khan, a meet gets decided
on 10th November 1659 at the base of the pratapgad fort. While meet
ongoing, Afzal khan hugs shivaji maharj and attacks his back with the weapon,
however, shivaji maharaj came prepared and attacked Afzal khan with tiger claws
and sword resulting in the assassination of the Afzal khan. Results, Victory of
the swarajya, then armies of swarajya hidden in the forest attacked the
adilshahi army and killed many of them, some escaped to the wai. This event
shocked Mohmmad adilshah and Aurangzeb from inside and everyone in the India
heard the new tiger roaring in the sahyadri as Chatrapati.
Nearest Tourist Places:
Mahabaleshwar: Mahabaleshwar hill station is located
30 km away from the Tapola village and can be reached by ambenali ghat present
around.
Satara: Satara City is located 70 km away from the
village and medha or bamnoli village can be visited while on route.
Tapola: a very scenic and beautiful hill station in
the koyna region can be visited. It is nearly 45 km far from the fort.
https://maharashtratourists.blogspot.com/2023/03/maharashtras-mini-kashmir-tapola.html
Kaas Platue: kaas Pathar is the very beautiful and
scenic valley of flowers 55 km away from the fort.
https://maharashtratourists.blogspot.com/2023/03/kaas-pathar-valley-of-flowers.html
Raigad fort: The second capital of the Maratha
empire Raigad fort is located in mahad, around 70 km far from the Pratapgad
fort.
https://maharashtratourists.blogspot.com/2023/03/raigad-fort.html
Sahyadri Tiger reserve: it is the reserved forest
spread across the shivsagar backwater of the koyna dam which is very near to
the fort.
https://maharashtratourists.blogspot.com/2023/03/raigad-fort.html
Forts like vasota and madhu makrand gad are present
in the surroundings can be visited for jungle trek experience and historical
learnings.
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