Mumbai to Kalsubai (Mount Everest of Maharashtra)
Kalsubai highest mountain of Maharashtra region (5400 feet) name heard first time in geography of Maharashtra, that's the time I decided to take this in my bucket list.
later on when I completed my school, college then I started finding myself through nature trails as I started loving travelling. For one trekker Kalsubai was always wanderlust for the epic beauty. I wanted to visit Kalsubai peak once in life ,That was the day I started counting days to fulfil one of my dream name Kalsubai shikhar highest peak.
ABOUT KALSUBAI:-
Kalsubai (Marathi- कळसूबाई) is a mountain in western ghat located in Sahyadri range of Maharashtra state.The height of this shikhar is 1646 meters (5400 feet) therefore known as highest point of Maharashtra.
According to villagers living in base village of mountain, a women name Kalsu Bai was punished by villagers and forced to leave village (however somebody forced her to clean utensils and clean up the residence by force,so she left that place) and that the women climbed mountain and started leaving on top of mountain and later on dead there,the locals built a temple in her memory on the peak’s summit. The hill is named Kalsubai after her.
Every Trekker has dream to trek to Kalsubai. I and my friend Vicky was one of them.
As we all know there is preparation and training when you want to climb Everest.
Kalsubai was Everest for us and its preparation was small treks from nearby Kalsubai which trained us and gave complete picture of the 5400feet mountain.
"Its not the mountain we conquer,but ourselves"
THINGS TO CARRY FOR TREK :-
-Backpack-carry and wear light cloths.
-Good Trekking shoes for your comfort.
-Cap &neck scarf.
-Extra water bottles and electoral or glucose.
-Munching items-dry fruits, chocolate, energy bar.
-Own ⛺ if going for stay which will save your money.
-Multipurpose Toolset for pitching tent or any other work.
JOURNEY STARTS FROM NAVI MUMBAI TO KALSUBAI :-
It all began on 4th December 2016.
Being a trekkers from Mumbai It was difficult for us to do one day return trek to Kalsubai as the base village itself was 150 km from Mumbai and then again 3-4 hours to reach the peak.so we decided to reach early in morning to the base village.for that we had only option to reach a day before and stay there only.
Initial journey for us was road trip to Navi Mumbai-Igatpuri-Kasara-Ghoti-Bhandardara (total distance via road-158 km).
It took 4hrs with one halt to reach Bhandardara) we reached in bhandardara village by 5 pm in evening and planned for camping .We had our own camping gear along with us so we saved our time to find hotels or other stuff for camping.
I had been to Bhandardara earlier from Sangmner as it was one day return and was not aware of the places from Bhandardara, but the only thing which was good for us that we got one contact from local people who helped us to provide place for camping and it was nearby to Arthur Lake which was just 14 km from Kalsubai base village.
In my next blog I will be writing deep details for Bhandardara camping and places as Bhandardara is known as "CHOTA KASHMIR" of Maharashtra ,this will completely help you to find more about bhandardara.
We introduced ourselves to the music with Campfire and camping.
TENT STAY WITH CAMPFIRE
We had decided to do camping near lake which will give us memorable experience, and it did.We had got some food parcel from hotel and went back to camping place.The hotel was hardly 2km away from camp site.It was first ambience for me where we explored night camping with bonfire.so far everything happened as decided.We were so excited for next day trek,as the excitement was at level high.we went to sleep as we had to get up early for trek.it was so cold being November (coldly days).
(for bone fire that local villagers gave us some woods that cost us 150 rs and also helped us to get it light.
Nature is the best medicine that you can give it to yourself.
EARLY MORNING VIEW OF TENT
LIFE IS EITHER ADVENTURE OR NOTHING
Next day morning when we got up it was completely freezing cold and dewdrop on our tent.when we came outside from our tent the view of lake was mesmerizing in the morning.
The temperature was almost came down to 8° to 10°, though we had our warm jacket on body and was feeling so cold.we got fresh-up as local villager helped us to get water for bath and washroom from his home,Then we had hot breakfast and gavati masala tea at dhaba only which was nearby to that village.After finishing everything we took our back pack and left for Bari village at 6:50am which was 14 km from our camp site.
we reached Bari village in morning around 7:15 am ,we packed our bag with water bottled and some eating stuffs and started climbing the peak.
At the base of this village we got some space to park our bike. the view of 5400 feet peak was simply amazing ,and was big challenge for us.
View of Highest peak of Maharashtra from base village Bari.
We started climbing toward peak at 7:45am ,the route was quite easy at the base,there were so many trekkers on route which was hidding towards peak.All our tiredness were gone after seeing such madness for kalsubai.After completing 60% of our trek we came across one stall selling tea,pakora, maggy and lemon juices.we got some rest for about 10 min.
We had our eating stuff in bag-pack so we removed that and had some from it and also glass of lemon juice from stall as it keeps your body hydrated.
After break of 15min we started climbing again then we came across one iron ladder which was really hard to climb on as it was moving.It was not looking so simple but hard to climb on.
IRON LADDER
Till now we never came across such ladder,though these ladders had made this trek easy to climb over as there was no other source to climb that 50-60 feet distance.
We both were so tired though it was only 10-15% distance that was left.Then we saw one well with full of cold water,removed some water and put it on head ,ahh it felt so nice and sat there for 10min.
While moving further we saw two small girls who was really inspiration for both of us as they were just 10year old and was climbing mountain kalsubai with no tiredness on face.
SMALL GIRLS WHO INSPIRED US.
Then we started again with same inspiration as those girls had,and start the trek where we decided no halt unless top.and finally we are here,I must say Dream came true ,on peak of Kalsubai.
We reached on top by 11:15,as it was almost 3 and half hours that we were climbing and literally was waiting to reach on top.
Our confidence was increased towards trek as we completed highest peak.
That was the time where we were on top of Maharashtra,the views from top was mesmerizing and breath taking.
We both were so tired, but same time our tiredness were gone after seeing such breath taking view from top.
We had some rest on top as there was small temple of kalsubai. and it was surronded by Ratangad, alang, kulang and malang.
KALSUBAI TEMPLE ON 5600 FEET
HIGHEST PEAK OF MAHARASHTRA
It is said that traditional Pooja is performed by villagers at peak on every Tuesday and Thursday.
On occasion of Navratri ,its mestive atmosphere as many people come to worship at the summit and fair is organised during the ninth day of navratri. After hearing all this information I decided to visit again at this peak on 9th day of navratri may be next year.
We spent beautiful 2 hrs at top of peak which gives the view of beauty of bhandardara, Ratangad fort, Konkan kada, harishchandra fort,alang, kulang, madan fort. Experience from top was awesome.
" THE BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THE WORLD CAN NOT BE SEEN OR EVEN TOUCHED,THEY MUST BE FELT WITH HEART".
Some Photos which we clicked on Route:-
We started descending for base village by 1pm onwards as the legs were shivering and calf were literally down, somehow we managed to reach down by 3pm.and we started to take back journey to mumbai.
Total expenses that we faced across trek:-
-For two people Mumbai-Bari village-Mumbai(335km up down)-800 Rs for petrol
-Night stay(woods for campfire+food +water)-600Rs
-Trek day(breakfast+snaks+food stuff)-400 Rs
Being Traveller I always prefer to save my money on food, stay& extra unnecessary expense and that money is spent on next trek. so save money on travel.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR YOU;
HOW TO REACH :-
Kalsubai from Mumbai-
By Road:-
Mumbai-Igatpuri-ghoti-Bari village
(153km one way drive)
By Train:-
Reach Kasara by local (CST to Kasara local every 2 hours)
Kasara to Bari village-50km (you can take local taxi or you can take bus to Bari village as frequency is low but it will be economic compare to local taxi.
local taxi would be affordable when there is group of 4-5 people which may charge you around 1.5 k per auto)
WHEN TO VISIT :-
-June to September for monsoon trek as there will be foggy weather to add flavour in your trek.
-September to October for flowers trek.
-November to January as the climate will be coldly .
-February to May night trek are recommended as it would be quite hot in a day to trek.Night trek is safe.
-From base village to peak difficulty level is medium & can take average 4 hours to reach.
WHERE TO STAY :-
Places to stay:-
One can pitch their tent on top of peak, but 2-3 tents can be pitch as place is too small.
You can camp at base village Bari where you can get food from local homes.
(own camping material)
All time best place to stay at Bhandardara near lake or can stay in hotels at Bhandardara which is 14 km from Bari village.(You can get tents and inside mats on rent at Bhandardara village).
Resorts are available at nearby place.
PLACES TO EXPLORE NEARBY :-
Epic beauty of Bhandardara dam,Arthur lake Camping with bonefire,Ratangad fort,Amruteshwar temple, Alang, Kulang, Madan fort,Sandhan valley.Kalsubai to harischandra trek through dark forest.
MONEY SAVING TIPS :-
Carry own tent or sleeping bag if going for camping.
You may get mtdc hotel or low cost hotels to stay in Bhandardara village.(avoid staying in high class resort which may charge you more).
Carry own juice tetra-packs or ORS for trekking.
Avoid going into high class restaurant, where you can get good food in small stalls also.
Avoid travelling through private autos,it may charge you extra if less no of people.
Carry extra water bottles from base village itself,they may charge you 5-10 rs extra on route of mountain.
"SAVE MONEY ON EVERY TRAVEL AND SPEND IT ON NEXT TRAVEL"
Go and explore yourself to Nature.
Thank you.
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