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Photo: Neeraj Rane, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The fort was the site of the Battle of Pratapgad fought between the Marathas and the Sultanate of Bijapur in 1659. The fort stands on a hill top and offers great views. The fort has two gates, complete with towering walls and bastions. The fort is divided into two parts - lower and upper. The lower fort houses the main entrance, while the upper fort contains temples, a statue of Shivaji (installed in 1957) and several buildings.( UNESCO, part of Maratha Military Landscape)
Pratapgad is a mountain fort located in Satara district, in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra. The fort is situated 24 kilometres from the Mahabaleshwar hill station. The fort is now a tourist destination.
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Needle’s Point
From the viewpoint an overhanging cliff in the shape of an elephant trunk is visible. Apart from the strange rock formation there are great views of the surrounding cliffs
Named after Peter Lodwick, a British officer who first climbed the hill in April 1824. To mark his accomplishment, his son erected a 25 feet column, which stands to this day. Here also the views are great with unobstructed views of the nearby Pratapgad Fort.
On the way to Arthur's Seat. This point also provides beautiful views of the valleys. There is a big parking area at this point.
Sunset Point
Just ahead (before) of the Arthur's Seat. After the renovation, it has good stairways that give beautiful views of the valley below. There is a small parking area.
One of the most popular spots. This is at the end of the road, that is a dead end. There is no parking available, and during peak season it may be impossible to get a spot on the sides of the road. You can park at Savitri point, just 300 m away, and walk to Arthur's seat point, with several other points along the way. Castle Rock point is also nearby. There are lot of eateries at the entrance. There is also a Sulabh toilet but don't expect cleanliness, lights and doors inside. There are no toilets available at other points on the way and you may be hours away from the next one.