The Kalavantin Durg Trek is one of the most adventurous treks near Mumbai, located in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. Famous for its steep rock-cut steps and breathtaking views, the trek attracts many trekking enthusiasts every year.
History of Kalavantin Durg:
The pinnacle has several steps rising to the summit, but nothing is known about the structure’s origins. According to local guides, it was erected for a queen named Kalavantin in the 15th century, about the same time as Prabalgad.
The term “Durg” means “fort” in Marathi. There is no fort, despite the name “Kalavantin Durg.” The king utilized Kalavantin as a pinnacle to keep an eye on the surrounding territory.
About Kalavantin Durg Trek:
Kalavantin Durg is not that safe for initial trekkers, but I have seen a few trekking families with their children, which surprised me, as the high-rise rock-cut steps are uneven and steep trek not suitable for children. The last 300-400 feet on the rock portion of the journey are the most difficult; there are no second chances after a single mistake. So make sure that you have good pair of shoes as well as carry enough water or energy drink with you because the trek will surely dehydrate you.
On the other hand, it is one of the beautiful treks near the dream city Mumbai, located in western ghats. If you have two days to trek, I will suggest you do night camping too. I will share some pics of Camp, set up at the base of Kalavantin Durg at Prabalmachi. Start your trip on Friday evening and spend the night camping in Prabalmachi to escape the crowds. Trek to the summit of Kalavantin Durg or Prabalgad on the Saturday early morning; by doing this, you avoid most of the public as it is close to the city it is one of the hotspots for trekkers.
Location of Kalavantin Durg :
It is located between Matheran and Panvel in the Indian state of Maharashtra, at an elevation of 2,300 feet in the Western Ghats.
Prabalmanchi, Panvel, Maharashtra 410206.
How to Reach Kalavantin Durg:
Reach Panvel from Mumbai. There are buses and auto rickshaws available to Thakurwadi village, which falls roughly 15 km from Panvel. An Autorickshaw fair will cost around Rs 50–70 per head depending upon the situation (no meters), and the bus ticket will be even cheaper. The entry fee is Rs 50 for a person.
Trek Experience:
So we started the trek officially from 7:30 p.m. Earlier will be the better.The journey started with a casual walk on the hill with a normal inclination. The way was not smooth, but it was not hard at all. We kept on moving and forwarding, clicking pictures, having fun, and ascending.
The main Kalavantin Durg was still not visible until we came to a plateau and found that the central peak was still far away with a very rough path.
Once you start proceeding from this plateau, the trek is challenging. It is full of rocky paths, slippery muddy paths, and thorny bushes.
For another 45–60 minutes, the trek seems exhausting to the extent that I took more breaks than the trek’s time.
Finally, we came up to the point where the only cubicle is left to be climbed.
Now, here comes the point where the trickiest part comes to climb this. Either you climb using those ropes, or you need to be extra careful while climbing this. And here we reached the top: The top of Kalavantin Durg.
But the thing is, descending is even more difficult than climbing.
Accidents on Kalavantin Durg:
Rachita Gupta Kanodia, a 27-year-old trekker from Hyderabad, died in December 2016 while on a trek to Kalavantin Durg and Prabalgad. Her corpse was discovered ten days after she died. She had previously climbed the Kalavantin Durg in September and is thought to have fallen from the Prabalgad summit.
Chetan Dhande, a 27-year-old Pune-based trekker, died in February 2018 while 15 feet from the peak of the Kalavantin Durg. Many other climbers observed his fall, and his death was found nearly four hours later.
Following Dhande’s death, the local government enacted additional regulations to protect the hikers’ safety. According to the new overlords, each trekker was required to register with the administration by paying a rupes 20 admission fee and giving personal information. During the hours of darkness, from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m., no access was permitted.
Key problems :
- There were hardly 2–3 groups like us on the whole mountain. I couldn’t see a single female trekker—no presence of humans at all. Plan accordingly.
- You won’t get guided by local people because no one is there. So stick to the basics and avoid using any shortcuts or adventurous things.
- Climb if and only if you are fully fit. Don’t take a risk, please.
Getting to Kalavantin Durg Using Public Transportation :
- Get down at Panvel railway station on Harbour Line.
- Walk till Highway for Share auto Rickshaw and then get down at Shedung Phata.
- At Sheung Phata, hire a Rickshaw to Thakurwadi Village base of the trek.
- From here on, the trekking route is well-marked out.
- A local guide and stay facility is available at the base village.
- You can also book a rickshaw to the base village. Remember to negotiate with rickshaws as they usually ask for higher money.
Going to Kalavantin Durg in my car :
- Drive till Shedung Phata Panvel on the old Pune expressway.
- Take a turn towards Thakurwadi Village from here.
- Landmark Zoia Mountain Spa near Thakurwadi Village base of the trek.
- Google maps have a location