Pratapgad Fort Drive - From Mahad (25 July 2017)

      As my Parents have settled in Mahad in our new home & I live in Badlapur, We keep going to each other. Mahad is located in mid-western coast away region, typically a Konkan region. The Town recently got famous in 2016 for collapsing of one of the Twin Bridges Built by British on Savitri River, the incident took many lives there by making swell of Savitri a Death hole. I Drove to Mahad home for the first time on 23rd July 2017. 

       We planned for a short, one day outing on 25th July. The near by locations gave suggestions for Kashedi Ghat, Raigad Fort, Pratapgad Fort, Shivtar, etc. Well, We picked Pratapgad Fort.
We started at 10 AM from Mahad. The Goa highway- NH66 leaded us till Poladpur. Left from the Poladpur, gives SH72. This is the route for approaching Mahabaleshwar from the Western Maharashtra & Coastal Maharashtra. 
       SH72 from Poladpur drives around 4 kms on ground level & then takes a heavy swing as a ghat. The road have narrow edges & serene waterfall watch-stops. The fog in Rainy season added the cherry on the cake. The route was quiet & surrounded with tremendously beautiful environment. SH72 cuts for Pratapgad Phata some 16 kms prior to Mahabaleshwar. Now this wrecked road drives you till the foot of Pratapgad Fort on a altitude of 3510 ft. We reached Fort base around 12 PM. We had hot & tasty breakfast there by & started the fort climb. 
       Pratapgad Fort is Located in North of Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. It was built in 17th century By Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & is also famous for Battle of Pratapgad. Best time to visit here is Late monsoons & winters. Rainy visit here makes the view of fort Dusty due to fog & Pratapgad is well known for it Legendary Location on hill top surrounded by Mountain Ranges. We explored the fort in fog itself & returned back from the middle itself, there by visiting huge statue of Maharaj ranging his sword in air with a seat on a Horse. The fort is well maintained properly & in a very good condition.
We started our returning drive at 2 PM & reached our home in Mahad at 4:30 PM.
       The overall drive & exploring was good but made a back-line in my mind for unable to seeing the Fort Scene from Top. The enroute captures of surroundings made extremely amazing. Will surely visit back again here around Nov- Dec 2017.
      For visiting here, you follow the same route via Poladpur (if visiting from Konkan region or Western Maharashtra Coast) or Can take old NH4 from Pune/Kolhapur/Satara & enroute yourself inside via Surur, Panchagani, Mahabaleshwar (if visiting from other Eastern regions). It is worth visiting here & you surely take a view back here.

PHOTO GALLERY:

SH72 

SH72 Ghat section

SH72

SH72 Ghat section

Near by Pratapgad Phata

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Part 1 : Input

Part 2 : Output 

Fort Base 

Towards Main Entrance

Mukkhya Daar

Canon

❤ Mom Dad ❤

Fort Walls - Pratapgad

Hanumanji Coming Down

Towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue

Old routes - Pratapgad

View went into Fog #Disappointed

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue

All way companions 

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