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 22nd 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
Mumbai to Karnala Fort: Train Routes, Tum-Tums, and Sanctuary Rules
Our journey from Mumbai to Karnala Fort kicked off at Dadar Station. We boarded the 6:40 AM Harbour Line local train and arrived at Panvel Station by 8:20 AM. Right outside the station, we fueled up with a comforting breakfast of homemade idlis, upma, and dosas. While eating, my trekking partner, Vinayak, started gathering intel on the best transport options to reach the base of the fort.
We initially checked the Panvel MSRTC bus depot, but the bus timings didn't align with our schedule. Luckily, an MSRTC employee tipped us off that 6-seater auto-rickshaws (locally known as tum-tums) frequently run along the Mumbai-Goa National Highway. Using Google Maps to navigate, we walked toward the highway, took a left, and quickly spotted the rickshaw stand. The standard fare is about Rs. 60 per person, though a little polite bargaining is always recommended! By 10:00 AM, our tum-tum dropped us right at the Karnala Fort trek starting point—which also serves as the main gate for the Karnala Bird Sanctuary. If you are wondering how to reach Karnala from Panvel, this ride is incredibly convenient and only takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Traveler’s Tip: Finding a return ride on the Mumbai-Goa highway can be difficult. Be sure to take your rickshaw driver's contact number so you can easily call them for your journey back to the station.
Right at the entrance is the forest department check post where you must purchase your tickets. The Karnala Bird Sanctuary entry fee is Rs. 35 for Indian citizens and Rs. 60 for foreigners, with a separate charge if you are carrying a DSLR or professional camera (mobile phone cameras are free). The sanctuary also strictly enforces a fantastic eco-policy: you must pay a Rs. 100 refundable deposit if you are carrying any plastic items, such as water bottles, polythene bags, or chips packets. The guards will check your backpack and note the exact count of your plastic items. To get your Rs. 100 back, you must present all the plastic items on your way out, ensuring the mountain remains litter-free!
 |
| Entrance gate of Karnala Bird Sanctuary |
 |
| Peacock at bird sanctuary |
 |
| Parrots at bird sanctuary |
Just a short 10-minute walk past the entrance, we came across the sanctuary's caged enclosures. We stopped to take a few photos of the birds at Karnala Bird Sanctuary, spotting species like eagles, peacocks, and parrots. To be completely honest, this part of the experience was a bit underwhelming. There were very few bird species actually available for viewing, and unfortunately, the condition of the enclosures and the birds themselves did not seem ideal. Because of this, we only spent about 30 minutes exploring this section. After a quick look around, we hit the Karnala Fort trek route again, keeping our focus on the primary goal: reaching the summit of the fort!
 |
| Information board |
 |
| Jungle trail |
The Ascent, the Pinnacle, and Karnala Fort History
Before hitting the steep trail, we took a moment to absorb some Karnala Fort history. The forest department has set up excellent information boards at the base, including a fascinating letter written by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to his ministers—an absolute treat for anyone passionate about Maratha history! At 11:00 AM, the real ascent began. The initial path is easy and straightforward, but don't let that fool you. The trail soon becomes steep, and when combined with the coastal humidity, the Karnala Fort trek difficulty definitely ramps up. While seasoned trekkers can comfortably reach the peak in about an hour, it took our 16-member group of mostly first-timers around two hours. Thankfully, the trail features convenient rest sheds every 15 to 20 minutes, which were an absolute lifesaver for our group.
We finally conquered the summit at 1:00 PM. The fort itself is quite compact and takes only about an hour to explore, but the Karnala Fort top view is nothing short of spectacular, offering sweeping panoramas of the lush Raigad district and the winding Mumbai-Goa highway below. We spent a good chunk of time admiring the iconic Karnala Fort pinnacle (historically used as a strategic watchtower). Tucked inside this impressive basalt pillar are ancient rock-cut water tanks, one of which still holds clean, drinkable water! After navigating through a narrow historic gate, we reached the second section of the fort, where our whole group sat down to enjoy some well-earned snacks. By 2:00 PM, we began our descent, taking a peaceful 15 to 20-minute detour to visit the beautiful, ancient temple of Goddess Karnai along the way.
 |
| Goddess Karnai |
 |
| Basalt Pinacle (sulka) |
 |
| Fortification (wall) |
Completing the Trek: Plastic Refunds and the Return Journey to Panvel
We successfully completed our descent and reached the Karnala Fort base camp around 3:30 PM. True to the sanctuary's strict eco-friendly policy, we stopped at the forest department checkpoint to present our empty plastic bottles and wrappers. Because our final count perfectly matched their entry records, we happily received our Rs. 100 deposit back a brilliant initiative to keep the trails clean!
By this point, we had worked up quite an appetite. Right across the Mumbai-Goa highway, directly opposite the main gate, you will find a local dhaba. If you are looking for restaurants near Karnala Bird Sanctuary, this is a highly convenient spot to grab a hearty post-trek lunch.
While we waited for our food, we called the rickshaw driver we had met in the morning. By the time he arrived at the sanctuary gate to pick us up, we had just finished our meal. The return journey from Karnala to Panvel was smooth, and we were comfortably back at Panvel Railway Station by 5:30 PM, wrapping up a perfect weekend adventure.
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 |
No comments:
Post a Comment