Built by Prime Minister Moropant Trimbak Pingle on the behest of his king Shivaji, the Pratapgad Fort was complete in 1656. The fort is etched in history as the epic Battle of Pratapgarh 1659, which was fought between Shivaji and Afzal Khan, which lay the foundation of the Maratha Empire in the state. Pratapgad is now a popular tourist destination of historical significance and is located 25 kilometres from Mahabaleshwar.

Seen in background under the blue shamiyana is the final resting place of the seven-foot tall Afzal Khan Adilshahi of Bijapur. Afzal Khan has two tombs to his name; his body has been buried at Pratapgad, while his head is buried at the Raigad Fort. This is because Moropant Trimbak Pingle had promised Shivaji’s mother Jijabai, he presented her with the head of Afzal Khan, who had killed her other son in the Battle of Karnataka.