Pratapgad Tourism

The point attracts tourists as it presents the lovely view of two reservoirs – Dhom and Balakwadi, at the same time. The point is situated at an elevation of about 1280 meters.

Natural rock point that looks similar to a needle hole from a distance. An illusion of an elephant’s head can also be seen; thus, the nomenclature.

The picturesque Venna Lake is a major tourist attraction of the region. The lake lies beautifully surrounded by trees on all sides. The reflection of the trees in the lake along with the sky is a spectacular view. Go on a boat ride in the Venna Lake, and enjoy the natural beauty around.

There is a Durgah which is built in the memory of Afzal Khan. The durgah was built under the command of Shivaji, as a tribute to the martyr Afzal Khan for his extreme bravery.

Goddess Bhavani is worshipped by the local people and the temple is a big tourist attraction of the place.

Obviously, the Pratapgad fort is the main attraction of the place. The fort has three parts:

Upper fort: Square in shape, the upper fort has 180 meters of walls running on all sides. The Marathas have built a Shiva Temple inside the upper fort.

Lower fort: The south-eastern part of the fort is known as the lower fort. The lower fort has walls running from 320 meters in length to 100 meters in width. Eleven meters high bastions were built as the defence to this part of the fort.

Afzal Tower: It is believed that Afzal Khan was beheaded by Shivaji. Later, Shivaji instructed to bury his head at that certain place and erect a tower to commemorate his victory. Thus, Afzal Tower was built, and it still stands tall, silently reinstating the power of the Marathas in their heydays.

Local restaurants have a variety of items on their menu chart to be served on your platter. You can order local dishes, or you can also opt for Chinese, Mughlai, or Continental dishes. Try the AkbarallyParatha House and the IL Palazzo Restaurant. However, do not miss the chance to grab an ice-cream at the famous Hilltop Ice Cream place.

Local dishes range from mild to spicy. You can opt from both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes available in the place. Some popular dishes that you can try in Pratapgad are puranpoli, chaats, ukdicheModak, and batatawada. The uniqueness of the cuisine is sure to be on your taste buds for a long time.

Keep your eyes open for street-side shops. They sell a number of things under the same roof. From shawls to jams, you will find a wide array of things here. It is a place where you can shop for jams, jellys, squashes, marmalades which are made from the fresh fruits from the yards by the local people. Leather goods, clothes, intricately woven baskets, jewelleries, chappals, pure honey are some of the other items which you can buy.You can also visit the Town Bazaar, which is located in Mahabaleshwar. The chirpiness of the place is sure to greet you with warmth.

Check out the Handicraft Centre and pick up things that catch your eyes. From boxes of various sizes to hand woven clothes, you will be spoilt for choice.

Choose a good hotel, and enjoy the view from your bed, as you sip coffee. Some hotels also have spa and massage services.

Ask the local tour organisers for treks and hikes that are popular in the region. You can explore some beautiful trails in the region through such treks and hikes.

Hire a cycle and set on to explore the place without polluting the environment. 

Truth remains that kids rarely find historical places and forts uninteresting. However, the imposing fortress of Pratapgad will make an impact even on children, with its enigmatic presence and equally illustrating history. You can try stirring interest for kids by story-telling about the great kings and the even greater battles that took place here during the course of history. Kids will love the Venna Lake, and the enjoyable boat rides. Horse riding, go-karting, and kite surfing are the other great ways to keep the kids engaged while on the trip.

A statute of the great Maratha King Shivaji has been instated in the area. The statue has now become one of the landmarks of the place.

Pratapgad is 22 kilometers away from Mahabaleshwar. Therefore, you could visit Mahabaleshwar from here. However, the adjoining strawberry fields, the lakes and some strikingly amazing viewpoints in Pratapgad can take your breath away. You can also travel to Panchgani from Pratapgad.

Originally known as Sindola Hill, this point has been named after the Governor of Bombay, of the colonial era of India. His name was Sir Leslie Wilson. The point is famous as it is the only place in the entire area from where one can witness both sunrise and sunset. 

The point is named after a British officer of colonial India, Arthur Malet. He lost his wife and children in a ferry tragedy, and used to sit here, overlooking the Savitri River.

Natural rock forming illusion of 3 monkey like figures. The monkeys are believed to be showing the gestures of See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, as preached by Mahatma Gandhi.

The point attracts tourists as it presents the lovely view of two reservoirs – Dhom and Balakwadi, at the same time. The point is situated at an elevation of about 1280 meters.