According to legend the fort was built for a queen named Kalavantin but that really seems to be all that anybody knows.

Around 1458 Malik Ahmad, the prime minister of the kingdom of Ahmednagar, took over the fort during his conquest of Konkan.

The Mughals took control of Prabalgad along with Kalyan, Mahuli, Karnala and a number of other forts after Sambhaji’s death.

The fort was conquered by Shivaji from the Mughals in 1657, after he established himself in the Kalyan-Bhivandi area.

At the time of the attack the fort was governed by Kesar Singh, a Mughal sardar, and was the only fort to put up a strong resistance.

On seeing the signs of defeat the women in the fort performed Jauhar, a tradition of self immolation to ensure an honorable and respectful death.

Singh died during the battle in October 1657, Shivaji in an act of kindness allowed Singh’s mother and her grandchild a safe passage out.

via Prabalgad Fort, India | Amusing Planet.