Trek to Kalavantin Durg

Got up today at 5:30 am for a trek to kalavantin durg. It was Monday, 22^nd June 2015 heavy monsoon days followed from Friday and Kalavantin durg been a trek with medium difficulty level was a bit tough for beginners like me.The day dawned with a mild monsoon climate arousing the possibility that it is going to hit Mumbai today too.

The rolling stones and the wet mud at Kalavantin are very risky during monsoon season can’t say when they might get you down in a second. So think twice before visiting it in heavy monsoon season and so did I, the excitement was the only factor which got me to do this as my second trek after karnala.

Plan was to be resheduled if the harbour trains were have been affected by the heavy rains. After waking up in the morning I realized a minor pain in my back and thought of skipping this trek but to give a knack to my trekking skills was my second thought and just followed it. So we all met at Panvel station at 8:20 am, had our breakfast and headed towards panvel bus stand.

The base village for kalavantin durg is thakurwadi so we were planning to reach thakurwadi by bus from Panvel bus depot. We reached the panvel bus depot at 9:00 am and found out that the next bus was at 9:50 am, the crowd of people at the bus stop made the probability of a seat in a bus to zero even after waiting for fifty minutes.

So we decided to ride by auto, the auto-driver was demanding Rs.400 but we negotiated and managed to ride in Rs.300. You can negotiate till Rs.250 as we later came to know from a villager at thakurwadi that they generally charge Rs.250.

So we plied by an auto and reached thakurwadi at 10:00 am, It took 40 minutes via auto, the roads were beautiful after diverting to local roads from NH-4 added the nature scenery was so tempting that I couldn’t resist to take the photo even at the cost of wetting my mobile phone in the mild rain. You will enjoy the view of Kirki river that passes across the road and is overflowed during monsoon season.

Vishal, ketan, Mehatab and me(Left to right)

The main route that leads to the kalavantin durg has a NOTI office on its right side.

NOTI Office

My colleagues Ketan, Mehatab, Vishal showed their trekking skills and moved ahead without taking any photos, so I was alone left clicking those beautiful shots, after this I ran about 300 metres to cover the colleagues trekking skill gap.

Photo clicked after getting down from Auto

River passing by the trek route

The uphill climb at the beginning of the route will make a beginner whacked. One of our group member Ketan made his was out of one of the most difficult and unwanted route that later joins the main route, which according to him was shortcut for reaching the peak point. We warned him of not doing it but he went ahead and later realized that there was no chance of descending back as it was a parlous route with rolling stones and loose muddy soil.

The one-way route

During this time rain started heavily and there was no visibility beyond 10 meters so we were squealing ketan by his name from the main route to track him and he was squealing from up and none of us could spot each other on either side.

There was no visibility at all. So we decided to keep all the baggages with Vishal and he would wait on the main route in case if ketan descends via main route to find us then vishal would convey us the message via phone call.

Then I and mehatab made an attempt to find him out by going through the route which Ketan took and after walking for some time we realized that it was just one way, the route was completely filled by rolling stones and loose mud with no option to back down not at least for beginners and medium level trekkers.

We tried descending back to reach the main route but this route was precarious and so we ascended ahead. Finally after a thirty minutes search operation we found him out and yelled at him for not following the group.

Trek route

I rested for sometime at the point where we found ketan, got exhausted by the one way trek route. Mehatab and ketan went down the way to collect the baggage’s left with Vishal soon they arrived at the point to join me. This was the time I respected Mehatab for his trekking stamina.

Trek route

We then had a mini breakfast at this point and then started trekking. The slope of route was bad for beginners and felt like I was doing a seventy degree vertical climb over the mountain but we didn’t stopped. In fact I required a small break but other members didn’t want to break their metabolism of reaching the peak point.

So we continued and reached at the point where the toughest point of climbing the dangerous steps of Kalavantin starts, We were splashed by the rain droplets along with violent winds which didn’t allowed us to sit there comfortably so we just hided ourselves behind a small rock over there.

Had a long break of 30 minutes behind this small rock despite the gales just to rejuvenate and feel better because the route ahead is very risky and need endurance to continue. I threw some paper pieces from my bag which were wet due to rain but the force of whirlwind moved the paper-pieces like a mixer.

A hotel on the trek route

Over here we had lots of fun with some of them frightening  by seeing the route, while some with thinking that it’s easy to climb but what if we couldn’t make the descend over from there and all blah blah.

Trek route to reach the peak point

Small rocky patch

At this height the wind speed was so violent that it could blew you up. A no-no for beginners to choose this point as trekking spot as their first one especially during heavy monsoons.

As the squall went away we started to climb the small rocky patch that leads to the steps of kalavantin. The route ahead was risky and two of our members choose to quit here.

A view from rocky patch

Mehatab shoes were lacking the grip required ahead this point as it was complete rocky patch with no soil to provide a grip and this rock wouldn’t  give you a dime of grip under such environmental circumstances.

Ketan was ready to ascend but he was thinking much about the descending part. Vishal came for this trek the second time and this time he was ready.

At this rocky patch we halted so that everyone gets comfortable with the stormy winds. We were at a height of 2000 ft at this moment.

Soon another wave of stormy winds started, we thought the winds we first experienced were the worst but these were horrible.

We hastily moved down from this rocky patch, the cool breezes with these violent winds droppped the surrounding temperature below 16 degree I guess.

We were completely shivering with cold even with windcheaters and complete head covered to prevent from the splashy rains droplets that hit you like someone attacking by throwing desert sand on you.

The worst thing was Vishal halted on that rocky patch for some more action and was welcomed by the violent winds and he was like where on this rock shall I hide from this storm.

The winds were so strong that he didn’t have the option to descend as you cannot balance yourself against such violent winds at this height provided Vishal was a trekker with medium experience.

After seeing the wilderness of the nature above Vishal also planned to quit, If he quitted it would have been the second time for him to descend from this point, the previous time he didn’t had grippy shoes was the reason for quitting.

So I took the risk of going ahead to test the route and descended back so that it would be easy for me to provide a review of the route. I ascended without seeing the depths of mountain else it would have been more difficult and descended it by sitting on the supportable rocky patch alongside the route and felt completely safe as there was nothing much to worry. After listening this review Ketan agreed and Vishal was boosted as it was difficult for backing down the second time from this point.

We insisted Mehatab but due to uncomfortability in his shoes he choosed to wait for us.

A view while climbing the steps

We then started from the rocky patch to reach the steps ahead, they were easy if you are an enthusiastic trekker but challenging if you take this as first trek during the heavy monsoon season. Mumbai was heavily hit by heavy monsoons that started from Friday so we were experiencing it on the fourth day that was Monday.

Vishal was willing to stop due to violent winds at some point but we made him reach the peak and as we reached we shouted like a fervid. We were happy as we overcomed many obstacles where we thought about quitting up and this was the second trek accomplished successfully.

We didn’t halted at the peak point for a long time as Mehatab was waiting for us. It was raining heavily still managed a small video recording via phone, the recorded video has an awesome wind sound captured with it and is similar to the sound of an Auto-rickshaw engine.

I was excited about the view from the height of 2300 ft but due to heavy rain nothing was clearly visible we halted for 10 minutes over there and then started descending down as Mehatab was waiting for us. You will enjoy small waterspouts during heavy rain at the peakpoint.

A view from the top point

Next thing was to visit the waterfall which we kept in our list while ascending, and have a spun-out break by enjoying the natural flora and fauna of the place.

Had some clicks after a long time as monsoon clouds disappeared in bright sunlight. We then made our sandwiches over here with the materials that we brought.

We then descended down and complete trek was done with 3 breaks a great accomplishment after karnala where we had a total of 5 breaks. At some point I was exhausted while ascending but the team-spirit made me continued.

We enjoyed this trek a much more than anyone could but we were challenged by the heavy monsoons, violent winds and the "one way route" of Ketan. Many trekkers avoid this trek during monsoon season but if you want to enjoy to the fullest I would recommend trekking it during monsoon season if you love trekking challenges with their risks. It is risky but its pays you out with double the enjoyment.

We reached the base village and then made a phone call to auto-driver for pickung us as we managed to take the contact number of the auto-driver who rided us from panvel station with the condition that he will charged Rs.50 extra for picking us up.

The adjoining trek destination prabalgad is yet to be done and I am sure about doing it till the end of this year.

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One day trek to karnala fort

This was my first trek and for most of my colleagues so we decided to select a trek point which would be easy for beginners so that everyone completes it, turning it as a catalyst for the trekking journeys to come ahead in this summer vacation. After a discussion to choose trekking point for beginners, we selected karnala near panvel and decided to trek it on 16 June 2015 with my colleagues.

We group of 8 people decided to meet on the eastern side of Juinagar railway station at 7:30 am as one of our colleague resides there so it was our meeting point, we all gathered as decided had our breakfast then boarded an auto-rickshaw to reach the nearest bus stop named Fisher Rose Mount Co. on Sion-Panvel expressway as the frequency of buses from expressway towards karnala is better than Panvel bus depot.

The auto drivers here allow four passengers to ride, generally it should be three but we were happy as allowing four made our job in two auto's as our group was of eight members, I was seating beside auto-driver and three of my colleagues seating on the back seat  which reminded me of the auto-ride in my native place where at least 4-5 people overload the auto-rickshaw.

We travelled through Hanuman mandir marg and reached near Sion-Panvel expressway in 10 minutes. It was an share rickshaw with charge of Rs.10 per head it, dropped us opposite to D.Y Patil university 100 metres away from our destination, we took a left turn and reached to other side of the road by crossing it to reach the bus stop.

We boarded a bus going to bhor which was not the correct bus it happened due to miscommunication with bus-conductor, he heard khandala instead of karnala and allowed us to board the bus on realizing it we got down at an unknown area probably it was Bherle village adjacent to Sion-Panvel expressway. Thanks to “ketan” who realized that the bus was not on the right way else we would have reached Khandala.

We then walked alongside Sion-Panvel expressway searching for bus stop, luckily we found it within five minutes, and from here we boarded a bus towards Panvel bus depot which is adjacent to Panvel station as we were sure that there will be buses from Panvel depot to Karnala fort.

Panvel ST depot

The bus ticket from Panvel to karnala is Rs.13, Bus will drop you at entrance of Karnala bird sanctuary. If you are in a group of eight or more you can  hire a “tum-tum” till karnala bird sanctuary, it will cost around Rs.200 from panvel if possible try to book the “tum-tum” service for return journey as the frequency of ST buses halting near Karnala exit point is not good. 

  

After getting down from bus, you will have to take the entry tickets for Karnala bird sanctuary, Karnala fort is located inside Karnala bird sanctuary. The ticket was Rs. 30 per head for adults and Rs. 15 for children’s (5 yrs.-12 yrs.) For foreigners its double the amount. You need to pay separate charges if you carry a camera.

A board on the left side of bus dropping point

Karnala bird sanctuary parking and entry charges.

Karnala Bird Sanctuary vehicle parking charges

Bags are checked here for non-biodegradable items such as plastic bottles, plastic bags etc. and some refundable deposit is collected from you if you carry such items, which specifies the condition that if the number of counted non-biodegradable items are same as what you got in while entering the sanctuary then complete deposit is refunded. We had some plastic bottles but don’t know why the personnel checking our bags left us without collecting any refundable deposits. I guess there was shortage of receipts that are issued against your refundable deposits which left us with a warning that maintain cleanliness and preserve the beauty of forest.

Entrance of Karnala bird sanctuary

After walking for 5-10 minutes there is a canteen and on the left side of it there are many boards that provide detailed information about the birds visiting here and the observatory points from which these birds can be spotted and much more. There are also rabbits and some caged birds such as peacock, black kite etc.

Enchanting Black Kite

The day was Tuesday on 16^th June and we saw about 40 trekkers throughout the journey, we started the trek at 9:30 am in the morning, there are various routes to reach the fort we took the route that passes from the backside of canteen.

Route at the backside of Canteen

There are many small crabs which you will encounter till 700-800 ft.

Two small crabs hiding below the stone

There were stones painted with distance left to reach the fort, the first stone which we encountered indicated that the distance was 2.15 km so we geared up for the experiences to come ahead. We took our first break after 600 meter which was followed by three more breaks at an average distance of 600 meters.

Waiting spots

You will see three such waiting spots if you take the route passing from backside of the canteen.

At least 2 litre’^s of water is needed for each person, there were many groups which we met who were facing shortage of water, so please carry sufficient amount of water and first aid kit specially medicines for headache, painkiller, dettol and bandages.

The trekking point is for beginners but try to wear stretchable trousers as there are some points on the route where you would feel uncomfortable wearing jeans especially on those wide distant stairs.

We ascended slowly and did not made an haste to reach the top of the fort, we had four breaks, first break for rest which was of 10 minutes, second break for eating which was of 15 minutes, third and fourth break for rest which were of 10 minutes each and the photo shoots time which was collectively around 15 minutes.

It was a sunny day with no signs of rain when we started and after covering half the distance suddenly there were clouds of rain, the breezy and roaring winds made us exhilarated and finally the rain droplets busted out the summer heat. The wonderful path, relaxing breaks, mind boggling scenes and the feeling of rain droplets made the first trek a remarkable one.

We then reached the peak point at 1:00 pm. The scenic view from this point is worth the pain you took to reach here. You can have an amazing 360 degree view from this place with naked eye at least till a distance of 20-22 kilometers on an average sunny day.The centre peak is the most difficult to trek and only recommended for experts, beginners cannot make it without safety gears.We didn't tried to climb over there but it will be in my TO-DO list for the next visit.

View from the top point

There are many points which can be seen from here such as Matheran, Prablamachi, Mumbai- Pune expressway and around seven rivers but it’s difficult to locate the points from here, remember to check out the Google maps before visiting this top point and try to get an compass with you so that you can easily locate the spots which you are viewing, a binoculars can give you a more better view.

                               

                        From top to bottom: Mehatab, Bithi, Vishal, Neha, Me, Aakash, Mukesh, Ketan.

After seeing the vast depth of the mountain it was feeling like jumping down with a parachute.We were completely covered by the monsoon clouds, thick fog and the swirling sound of breeze made the complete scenario a bliss.

We enjoyed our trekking experience by seeing the views from a height of 1440 feet and then finally decided to start descending at 2:50. While descending down we took only one break after 300 meters at a small tent and no other break at all after that don’t know what pushed us to that limit may be the achievement of completing the first trek successfully, and reached base at 4:10 pm.

Trek route

We had a long break of 1 hour at the canteen by having tea, coffee, Onion pakoda, another item available in canteen was “poha” which we didn’t tried as we were left with many snacks brought with us for trekking.

The canteen menu is not costly Onion Pakoda plate was Rs.25 with 6-7 pakodas, Lemon juice for Rs.10, tea and coffee for Rs. 10  and Poha for Rs. 20. There is no other eatable item available nearby at least till one km outside the entrance gate of Karnala bird sanctuary, so be ready with all the items you need before proceeding the entrance gate. There is no drinkable water at the base available, there are 4 bore well taps which you can use for non-drinking purpose, packed water bottles are available in canteen.

We left the canteen at 5:20 pm and reached the bus stop opposite to entrance of Karnala bird sanctuary at 5:30 pm, the frequency of bus is very bad and we waited eagerly till 6:10 pm for a bus towards Panvel station which dropped us near Panvel station at 6:40 pm.

The Karnala trek is the best for an enthusiastic beginner as it doesn't exhaust you and leaves back some energy to think about the next trekking point. Now planning ahead for our next trek to “Kalavantin fort”.

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