KALAVANTIN DURG TREK- WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS FORTRESS!

KALAVANTIN DURG TREK- WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS FORTRESS!

DATE: 29TH JANUARY 2018

Making the plan:

So finally, it was planned. A very long standing plan.Prolonged - sometimes because of the risk of trekking in rain and sometimes due to friends being busy. This time it was quick and easy. Just decided the date forwarded message in all groups. Got quick positive replies. Confirmed the smaller details on the WhatsApp group and we were set to conquer the world's toughest fort.

Towards Panvel station:

So according to our plan we met at thane by 6.10 to catch the 6.20 am panvel train from thane. Others were going to meet us directly at panvel station. One of my friends didn't show up on time. Despite it, we kept moving according to our plan because we were unable to contact him. The instructions were clear in our message if you miss the train you miss the trek.

The S.T.:

We caught the 8.00 am st towards Thakurwadi i.e the base village to Kalavantin Durg. It was a 30-45 min journey from Panvel st stand.

The route:

We started our trek at 8.30 am. The entire trek can be divided in 4 parts.

1.From main road to Prabalmachi plateau-1 and half hours

2.From Prabalmachi plateau to last stall.

3.The stairs

4.The final rock

Most of the trekkers leave the trek either at stairs or at the last rock, during the rainy season as this part becomes the most difficult then.

Part 1:

This can be further divided into two parts.

1.A simple walk towards starting point of trek

2.A climb after a  walk.

The route is well marked. And you can ask locals if you are confused.

During the first half we were just excited to start our trek and started recording our experience. Everyone was full of energy and enthusiasm.

Then we started climbing. Our group was divided into 3 parts and we were moving one behind the other. Taking photos and four stops we reached the Prabalmachi plateau. En route there were picturesque points and locations to have a few clicks. After that you'll come across two small idols of Hanuman. After a small trek, post this you'll come to the Prabalmachi plateau. 

There are good washrooms, water, food, and stay facilities provided here. You can hire tents for camping and can also give orders of food to the locals. 

Part 2:

Moving through a village you have to start trekking again.

You will come across a few stalls. After a hike you'll reach the last stall. From here the main part- for which this fort is well known begins.

Part 3:

The winding 85 degree rock cut stairs are directly exposed to a fall on one side and Mountain to the other. These are rightly named as the stairs to heaven. They are uneven and very high. They might be very risky in monsoon but were fairly easy in winter. They are definitely not for the faint hearted and people having vertigo.

Part 4:

After the stairs comes the last rock patch. It is a straight vertical climb of 20 feet approx. There are two ropes provided to climb. However they are short in length and it's advisable to carry your own rope too. You have to pull yourself up and stretch all your leg muscles to get a hold on the rock. You have to be very careful that you won't let go off your grip of the rope. Few of our experienced trekkers got up and tied our rope and gave a helping hand to pull others up. It's recommended that those who aren't able to climb these rocks must stay down. Also you can leave your bags down and go up.

Finally conquered:

The moment you reach the top, you become speechless. You find a mesmerizing view of various mountain ranges. These are accompanied by several waterfalls and fog in the monsoon season. The feeling of conquering the world's toughest fortress is in itself such an amazing experience.  The top offered a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.

Descending:

After clicking many pics we started descending. This is more difficult than climbing up. First was the rock now. Omkar struggled a bit at getting down this rock. However I didn't find it that difficult despite my height. Flexibility of muscles was all that was required. And when our friends were descending. We were also shooting our descend on stairs. It was a thrilling experience to climb down these. Then at the Prabalmachi plateau we washed our hands and faces. Got fresh, and moved down towards a quiet stall where we decided to have our lunch.

Lunch:

Everyone had brought some really good food-sandwiches, theplas, bread jam, snacks, carrots, cucumbers, and so much more. We were full and decided to take a small nap. 

Final climb down:

At 2.30 we woke up and again started moving down. Now we were heading fast. And by 3.30 we had completed our trek. But after lunch our water was finished. So at a shop we took chilled water and cold drinks to re hydrate ourselves. Then we enquired about the return bus towards Panvel station. 

Bus back to Panvel station:

We were informed that we had just missed the 3.30 bus and next would leave at 4.30. so we had an hour to relax again. Sitting, listening to songs, teasing each other, etc we passed our time.We were also looking forward to asking for lift or moving towards the main road because we were bored waiting. And just then our bus turned up. Few of our friends had gone to refill their water bottles at a nearby temple and we noticed they had already taken seats in the bus while we were boarding it.

Back to Mumbai:

Again in the bus mostly everyone had a nap. At Panvel station we filled bottles at the railway water counter. We said Goodbye to our friends who were catching the CST train. We caught the thane train and made a plan to eat appetite momos. With our stomachs full we took some really beautiful memories of the trek with us back home. 

Experience:

I had so many nightmares about this fort. But I was determined to trek it. I was a bit scared because of the huge group that we had this time as we didn't know the capability of everyone. But actually everyone quite easily completed the trek. We got to make some new friends and soon enough planned our next trek too. It feels like now finally I have a perfect group of friends for my trekking adventures.

The trek didn't seem to me that difficult as explained on net. Yet it is not to be underestimated either. Being careful of your foot steps you can trek this mighty fort. The experience of this trek was really overwhelming.

Our Plan

*KALAVANTIN DURG TREK*

_Worlds most dangerous fort_

*Info about place-*
In the Western Ghats near Mumbai, at a hefty altitude of 701 metres (2,300 feet) above sea level lies the world’s most dangerous fortress: Kalavantin Durg, which (according to legend) was constructed in honour of a Queen Kalavantin. Offering gorgeous views and abundant beauty – via rugged terrain with narrow rock-cut steps, steep slopes and no support whatsoever – the trek to and from the fortress is dangerous yet thrilling. Kalavantin Fort is famed as the ‘Climb to Heaven’, owing to its dangerous nature and the bird’s eye view of the immense beauty that awaits atop.

*Date-*

29-1-2018

*Trek charges-*

INR 250

*Train-*

5.12 am Panvel from Thane.

*Bus-*

6.55 am from panvel station to thakurwadi village

*What to carry-*
1.COMPULSORY 2 L OF WATER(PREFERABLY  1L NORMAL WATER AND 1L ORS WATER) 2.LOTS OF EATABLES(BISCUITS CHOCOLATES SNACKS) 3.SEMI HEAVY LUNCH(THEPLAS SANDWICHES) 4.SWEAT TOWEL OR NAPKIN 5.DSLRS IF YOU WANT TO AND CAN 6.ENERGY DRINK IF POSSIBLE 7.CAP 8.MOSQUITO REPELLENT AND BAND-AIDS AND RELLI SPRAY(JUST AS FIRST AID) 9. COMPULSORY SMALL PACKETS OF TANG OR GLUCON D 10. CARRY BAGS AND NEWSPAPER 11. POWER BANK AND CHARGERS
*What to wear-*
1.COMFORTABLE TRACK PANTS 2.T-SHIRTS 3.CAP 4.GOGGLES 5.GOOD (GRIP)TREKKING OR SPORTS SHOES

*Event risk*

Please take care of your own safety and other fellow trekkers. Everyone joining for the trek abides by that he his responsible for his own safety and any mishappening during trek.