Pratapgad is usually visited as a day-trip from Mahabaleshwar, a popular tourist destination located 25 kilometres away. Pratapgad fort is located 15 kilometres from Poladpur and 22 kilometres from ahabaleshwar, a popular hill station in the area. This fort stands 1,080 metres above sea level. The fort is built on a spur which overlooks the road between the villages of Par and Kinesvar. The Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj commissioned Moropant Trimbak Pingle, his prime minister, to undertake the construction of this fort in order to defend the banks of the Nira and the Koyna rivers, and to defend the Par pass. It was completed in 1656.
