The spectacular Pratapgad Fort, built by Shivaji in 1656 (and still owned by his descendents), straddles a high mountain ridge 24km northwest of the town of Mahabaleshwar. In 1659, Shivaji agreed to meet Bijapuri General Afzal Khan here, in an attempt to end a stalemate. Despite a no-arms agreement, Shivaji, upon greeting Khan, disembowelled his enemy with a set of iron baghnakh (tiger’s claws). Khan’s tomb (out of bounds) marks the site of this painful encounter at the base of the fort.
Pratapgad is reached by a 500-step climb that affords brilliant views. For ₹200 a guide will take you to 20 points of interest, taking nearly two hours.
