Trek to Kalavantin durg-fort
Posted by Anurag in
travel, trekking
Saturday, July 26. 2008
Monsoon treks for the year 2008 started with a rather exciting trek to Kalavantin durg(pinnacle). Kalavantin durg, located very close to Panvel, is a medium difficulty trek, but the rains make it more challenging. After the first rains fell in Mumbai, we planned to trek Kalavantin durg on 8th June 2008. We all gathered at Panvel bus depot to take the 7AM bus to the base village of Thakurwadi. Since it was getting late, we then decided to take six seater auto rickshaws to Thakurwadi instead. After negotiating with the autorickshaw drivers they agreed to take us there for Rs. 200 per SixSeater rickshaw. The distance is about 17Kms form Panvel.
While reaching Thakurwadi village, look out for Zoia resort, there's a road which goes left from there, and after walking about 1 hour on it one can reach the base village, which is very close to Kalvantin hill. We however went a little ahead and took some other route and got lost. After a little help(paid) from local kids, we managed to find the actual broad village road which led us to the village at the foot of Kalavantin pinnacle. From here we found our own way through the jungle. One thing to make sure is that the shoes are good, since the jungle path becomes extremely muddy and slippery because of several groups who might be ahead of you.
After climbing for an hour more, we reached the notch from where there are steps dug out in the rocks to climb the pinnacle from its southern end. The force of wind is freaking awesome at this notch, and throughout the climb. After a while, it started raining and the whole scenery was covered with mist and fog. Really awesome view, but photographing it was rather difficult. After climbing the topmost pinnacle of Kalavantin durg, we climbed down. Several people slipped and fell since the entire route was made muddy and slippery due to a rather large group which came and returned before us.
We had lunch at the base village, and returned to the ST bus stop at Thakurwadi village, after dumping the plans to visit Prabalgad.
Pictures from trek to Kalavantin durg are available here.
While reaching Thakurwadi village, look out for Zoia resort, there's a road which goes left from there, and after walking about 1 hour on it one can reach the base village, which is very close to Kalvantin hill. We however went a little ahead and took some other route and got lost. After a little help(paid) from local kids, we managed to find the actual broad village road which led us to the village at the foot of Kalavantin pinnacle. From here we found our own way through the jungle. One thing to make sure is that the shoes are good, since the jungle path becomes extremely muddy and slippery because of several groups who might be ahead of you.
After climbing for an hour more, we reached the notch from where there are steps dug out in the rocks to climb the pinnacle from its southern end. The force of wind is freaking awesome at this notch, and throughout the climb. After a while, it started raining and the whole scenery was covered with mist and fog. Really awesome view, but photographing it was rather difficult. After climbing the topmost pinnacle of Kalavantin durg, we climbed down. Several people slipped and fell since the entire route was made muddy and slippery due to a rather large group which came and returned before us.
We had lunch at the base village, and returned to the ST bus stop at Thakurwadi village, after dumping the plans to visit Prabalgad.
Pictures from trek to Kalavantin durg are available here.
Excerpts from trek information mail sent to us by Jagdish:
Brief Introduction about Prabalgad / Kalwantin Durg:-
Height: 2300 ft
Grade: Prabalgad Easy, Kalwantin Medium
Time: ~3 hrs from Thakurwadi, Base Village
Location: Prabalgad is a fort located near Panvel.
Prabalgad fort is situated on northeast side of Panvel, on Mumbai-Pune road. One can see it from express highway as V-Shaped mountain. The left one is Kalwantin durg & on the right side is Prabalgad. But there is a dense forest on the way till the the top of fort Prabal. Historical references indicate that Freedom fighter Umaji Naik made a stay there in 1826.
Journey Details:-
The bus is scheduled at 07:00hrs from Panvel bus depot, and will drop us at Thakurwadi village around 07:30 Hrs. Please be sure about the timing. Its sharp 7 am. We will be getting down at the last stop.
Trek Details:-
08:00 Hrs -- Move towards Prabalgad fort from Thakurwadi village.
09:00 Hrs -- At Thakarwadi. 1st Halt. BreakFast Time.
11:00 Hrs -- On Top of fort. By taking right side route. Whereas left side one goes for Kalwantin
I guess 2 hrs for Fort Exploration, Lunch etc. is enough.
We will descend the fort around 13:30 Hrs.
15:00 Hrs -- At Thakarwadi
15:45 Hrs -- At Kalwantin Durg Pinnacle
Kalwantin durg pinnacle is tougher than Prabalgad. It has some rock cut steps intially and then few more but muddy path near the pinnacle. It will be slippery, but real adventure. Hopefully we are going to scale the pinnacle.
16:30 Hrs -- Descend from Kalwantin
18:00 Hrs -- At Thakurwadi ...
From here we will catch the last bus for Panvel, or take a rick if its available towards scheduling fata and henceforth to Panvel, have Snack/tea at Panvel.
And then depart for home. The Estimated initial expenditure is about Rs. 100/- This includes Panvel to Thakurwadi return fare for bus/rick. Veg Sandwiches as morning breakfast, theplas with chutni/chunda as lunch and evening snacks/tea.
Things To Carry:-
A Water Bottle (~2.5 Ltrs)
Rain cheater (Optional)
Camera, Cell Phone (Optional)
Please avoid wearing Gold and other ornaments
1 torch (if u have any please bring)
Some ready to eat food. Plum cakes, Biscuits etc.
Medicine if u require usually (Optional)
Extra pair of clothes,
Knife
And a haversack to put all these things.
Brief Introduction about Prabalgad / Kalwantin Durg:-
Height: 2300 ft
Grade: Prabalgad Easy, Kalwantin Medium
Time: ~3 hrs from Thakurwadi, Base Village
Location: Prabalgad is a fort located near Panvel.
Prabalgad fort is situated on northeast side of Panvel, on Mumbai-Pune road. One can see it from express highway as V-Shaped mountain. The left one is Kalwantin durg & on the right side is Prabalgad. But there is a dense forest on the way till the the top of fort Prabal. Historical references indicate that Freedom fighter Umaji Naik made a stay there in 1826.
Journey Details:-
The bus is scheduled at 07:00hrs from Panvel bus depot, and will drop us at Thakurwadi village around 07:30 Hrs. Please be sure about the timing. Its sharp 7 am. We will be getting down at the last stop.
Trek Details:-
08:00 Hrs -- Move towards Prabalgad fort from Thakurwadi village.
09:00 Hrs -- At Thakarwadi. 1st Halt. BreakFast Time.
11:00 Hrs -- On Top of fort. By taking right side route. Whereas left side one goes for Kalwantin
I guess 2 hrs for Fort Exploration, Lunch etc. is enough.
We will descend the fort around 13:30 Hrs.
15:00 Hrs -- At Thakarwadi
15:45 Hrs -- At Kalwantin Durg Pinnacle
Kalwantin durg pinnacle is tougher than Prabalgad. It has some rock cut steps intially and then few more but muddy path near the pinnacle. It will be slippery, but real adventure. Hopefully we are going to scale the pinnacle.
16:30 Hrs -- Descend from Kalwantin
18:00 Hrs -- At Thakurwadi ...
From here we will catch the last bus for Panvel, or take a rick if its available towards scheduling fata and henceforth to Panvel, have Snack/tea at Panvel.
And then depart for home. The Estimated initial expenditure is about Rs. 100/- This includes Panvel to Thakurwadi return fare for bus/rick. Veg Sandwiches as morning breakfast, theplas with chutni/chunda as lunch and evening snacks/tea.
Things To Carry:-
A Water Bottle (~2.5 Ltrs)
Rain cheater (Optional)
Camera, Cell Phone (Optional)
Please avoid wearing Gold and other ornaments
1 torch (if u have any please bring)
Some ready to eat food. Plum cakes, Biscuits etc.
Medicine if u require usually (Optional)
Extra pair of clothes,
Knife
And a haversack to put all these things.
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Nikhil Manohar
- #2 - 2008-11-12 17:31 - (Reply)
Thanks! 
Nice description...
We're planning prabaLgad on 15nov2008.
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