Karnala Fort Trek Witnessing the History

Journey Date : 21-Feb-2019
Mode of Transport : Train and Auto

History of the fort

 

    Karnala Fort is a hill fort in Raigad district, Maharashtra, India, about 10 km from Panvel city. Situated at 1440 feet above sea level. The fort was likely constructed before 1400, under Devgiri Yadavas (1248–1318). From the year 1540, it is under the control of Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar. Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj conquered the fort on 22^nd June 1670

 

    In the year 1879 freedom fighter Vasudev Balvant Phadke used to stay on Karnala fort with his army. Officer pother of the British army announced a bounty for the information of Vasudev Balvant Phadek. One night he got information and he reaches Karnala fort in the night and captured Vasudev while he is in deep sleep at the goddess Karnai temple.

    Maruti B. Chitampalli born 5 November 1932 is a wildlife conservationist and Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India. He was instrumental in the development of Karnala Bird Sanctuary, Navegaon National Park, Nagzira Sanctuary, and Melghat Tiger Project; also constructing orphanages for displaced wildlife at the last two institutions. Maruti Chitampalli inspired by Salim Ali referred to as the Birdman of India, Salim Ali was the first Indian to conduct systematic bird surveys across India and wrote several bird books that popularized ornithology in India.

Travel and Trekking Experience

    We started our journey from the Dadar station (Mumbai) at 6.40 a,m via CSMT – Panvel harbor train and got down at Panvel station around 8:20 a.m. We had breakfast outside Panvel station (Homemade idli, upma, dosa). While having breakfast, he started collecting information about the transport going to Karnala fort. After breakfast went to Panvel ST bus depot and inquired, but buses were not available as per our time. We got information from an employee of MSRTC, that 6 seater rickshaw (tum-tum) is available from Mumbai-Goa National Highway, so we started walking towards Mumbai-Goa National Highway (take help of google map). As we approached the Mumbai-Goa highway, we turned left and saw a 6-seater rickshaw stand. They charge Rs.60 per person. Note: You have to bargain.

    Around 10:00 a.m with the help of 6 sitters rickshwa, we reached the base of Karnal fort or we could say gate of Karnala bird sanctuary. It took 20 to 30 Mins from Panvel station. Note: Rickshaws are not easily available on the Mumbai Goa highway, so take the contact number of the rickshaw driver, which will facilitate your return journey. Right at the start is the forest department check post, where you have to pay 35 Rs for citizens and Rs 60 for Non-Indian citizens and a 100 Rs charge if you carry a plastic material (like Polyethene bag, bottles, chips packet, etc) and a separate charge for the camera (excluding mobile phone camera). Also, they will check your bags for plastic material and make note of the plastic material count. They will return your 100 Rs if you bring all the plastic material back and only if the count matches as per their record.

Entrance gate of Karnala Bird Sanctuary

Peacock at bird sanctuary

Parrots at bird sanctuary

   After 10 minutes of walks, We saw some cages, In which some birds were kept, birds like (Eagle, Peacock, parrots, etc), so we spend some time taking photos. Very few species of birds were available for viewing in the bird sanctuary and the condition of the birds was also not good. We spent only 30 minutes watching birds, as we had to reach the top of the fort.

Information board

Jungle trail

    You will see some information boards about Karnala Fort and a letter written by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to his ministers on the information boards. Around 11:00 am the real trek started. Initially the path was very easy and straightforward, but further along the steep path and humidity made the trek difficult. It takes around 1 hour for regular trekkers to reach the peak, But it took us around 2 hours to reach the peak, our group had total 16 members and most of the members were first time trekkers. After every 15 to 20 minutes, there will be a shed arrangement to sit and rest, which helped us a lot. Around 1.00 pm we reached the top of the fort, it takes about 1 hour to see the fort completely as the fort is very small but the view of Raigad district and Mumbai Goa highway from the fort is very beautiful. Spent some time near the well known pinacle of Karnala fort. Inside the pinacle are some carved water tanks, one of which contains drinkable water. Earlier this pinacle was used as a watch tower. From the narrow gate, we reached the 2nd part of the fort where we all sat togather and had a snack. At around 2:00 PM, we started the return journey. We spent around 15 to 20 minutes at the small temple of the Goddess Karnai.

Goddess Karnai

Basalt Pinacle (sulka)

Fortification (wall)

    We reached at the base around 3:30 pm. At the checkpoint, we showed our empty polythene bags and plastic bottles. The count of the plastic material matched with their record. Hence, they returned our 100 Rs. On the opposite side of the Karnala bird sanctuary gate, or can you say another side of the Mumbai Goa highway, there is a hotel / Dhaba where we had lunch. We called and informed the rickshaw driver to come at the gate of Karnal bird sanctuary till they reached we had completed our lunch. Around 5:30 PM we reached Panvel station.

Places to see on the fort Karnala

Basalt Pinacle
Water cisterns
Ruined structure of the house
Fortification
Entrance gate

Sculpture on the entrance gate

Goddess Karnai temple

Places to see nearby

 

Shidhon village, Birthplace of freedom fighter Vasudev Balvant Fadke

View from top

Ruined house

Sculpture of Sharab on the gate

A short history of the fort on the bord

Kalsubai Monsoon Trek - Everest of Maharashtra

 

Journey Date : 24-Jun-2018

Per head cost : 700 Rs

Mode of Transport : Train / Jeep

Short Information about Kasubai Peak

    Kalsubai is a mountain in the Western Ghats, located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Its summit situated at an elevation of 1646 meters (5400 feet) is the highest point in Maharashtra. The mountain range lies within the Kalsubai Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary. It is visited throughout the year by avid trekkers, Kalsubai temple devotees, and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Kalsubai is a 6.6 KM long trek.

Travel and Trek Experience

    We started our journey from Dadar railway station (Mumbai) by boarding the Kasara train at 12:15 AM. We reached Kasar at 4:15 a.m. We had already booked a jeep from Kasara railway station to Bari base village of Kalsubai mountain, so we gave a phone call to the driver 10 minutes before we reached Kasara station. Outside the railway station, we board a jeep and reach Bari village at 5:30 a.m. It takes 45 to 50 minutes to reach Bari from Kasara. In Bari village, the villagers will arrange breakfast and lunch for you. We had already asked the driver to make arrangements for it. After having breakfast and tea, we started the trek at 6:30 a.m. Before starting the streak, we gave our lunch order (Veg or Non-Veg) so that after returning from a trek, there was no need to wait for lunch; the lunch would be ready to serve.

Gate - Kalsubai trek starting point

    Due to the rainy season, the climate was awesome, and we are sure that this trek will be memorable. After a few minutes of the walk, we reached the Lord Hanuman temple, and a gate nearby was the starting point of the Kalsubai trek route. We headed forward, and in the next few minutes, we reached the plateau. This was the first plateau, and you will get such a plateau after every few metres of climbing. We took some rest and started climbing the mountain. After we reach the midpoint of the trek or mountain, due to clouds or fog, we are not able to see the route and also not be able to guess how much distance is remaining to reach the top.

Lord Hanuman Temple, at base village Kalsubai

    We reached the first ladder, one by one we climb the ladder. There are a total of four ladders in this trek after we climb the 3rd ladder we reach around 1300 meters of height. we decided to take some rest and have some food, there are small shops where you will get hot Maggie, pakode, tea, etc. The hot tea and pakode give us the energy to climb the last part of the trek also to keep our body warm from cold wind and rain. Having hot pakode, Maggie, and tea in the rain is one of the best experiences.

4th Metal Ladder

    When we reached the 4th ladder we waited for around 30 minutes because there is no space to accommodate on top of the peak, first we allow people from top to come down so that space can be freed on top. Note: In the monsoon season almost all trekking groups visit Kalsubai, some groups come with 200 - 300 peoples or more than that. We started climbing the ladder from one side from the other side people from the top are coming down. We reached the topmost point of a mountain or we can say the topmost point of Maharashtra as Kalsubai is also known as Everest of Maharashtra.

    The view from the top is beautiful, all the sides of the mountain are covered with clouds, feel like we are in heaven, or like we are standing on the island between the ocean of cloud. The area on the top is very small only 45 to 50 people can accommodate, there is a small temple on top of the mountain of Mata Kalsubai. we took some photos and spent only 15 to 20 minutes and started descending.

Bari village view from top

Rock Steps - a way to heaven

    While descending you have to be more careful, due to rain, the land become slippery, at someplace you have to sit down and slide. It takes around 4 hrs to reach the top and 2 hrs 30 Minutes to reach the bottom of the mountain. we reached the village house at around 12:30 PM, change our clothes got fresh and order for lunch, as I mentioned earlier we have given order of lunch before we start the trek, hence lunch is ready when we return from the trek. we had lunch and with the same jeep, we reach Kasar railway station, but unfortunately, we missed 5:00 PM Kasar - CSMT local. we wait for the next 1 hr and at around 6:00 we board Kasara - CMST local and reach Dadar station at 10:00 PM.

   

Places to see nearby

Bhandardara Dam

Ratangad

Harishchandragad

Prabalgad

Harihargad

Hide and Seek of mountain into the clouds

Milestone

Group photo