Kalsubai Trek... Travel Magazine #01

Kalsubai HIGHEST PEAK OF SAHYADRIS

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KALSUBAI Kalsubai (Marathi: कळस◌ूब◌ाई शि◌खर) is a mountain (1646 meters) of the Western Ghats range located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Its summit situated at an elevation of 5400 feet is the highest point in Maharashtra which earns it the much glorified title of the 'Everest of Maharashtra'.

The mountain range lies within the Kalsubai Harishchandragad Wild-life Sanctuary. It is visited throughout the year by avid trekkers, kalsubai temple devotees and wild-life enthusiasts alike.

THE TREK Like every trek has a base village, Mt Kalsubai also has a base village called as Bari Gaon, population of hardly few hundred.

Kalsubai: Height: – 5400 feet Grade: – Medium. There are steel railings, chains and ladders at places where it is difficult to climb.

Endurance: 3-4 hours of medium/steep climb and 2-3 hours of descent.

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THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING AND YOU MUST GO FOOTERSROCKS

HEIGHT OF THE PEAK

5400 Ft TOTAL DISTANCE OF TREKKING IN KM, BOTHWAYS

APPROX 7 KMS

ABOUT KALSUBAI PEAK

APPROX TREK TIME : 3-4 HOURS AVAILABILITY OF NIGHT TREK : AVAILABLE. BASE CAMP : BARI VILLAGE DAYS REQUIRED FOR THE TREK : 1 DAY DIFFICULTY LEVEL : EASY TO MEDIUM HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL : 5400 FEET NEAREST AIRPORT : MUMBAI NEAREST RAILHEAD : IGATPURI JUNCTION STARTING POINT OF TREK : AS SOON AS A WATER STREAM IS SPOTTED WHILE MOVING AWAY FROM THE BASE VILLAGE OF BARI TYPE : HILL

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How to Reach Kalsubai Peak Rail: Igatpuri falls on the Mumbai-Nasik route and is a 3 hours journey from Mumbai. Trains are easily available from Mumbai to Igatpuri at all hours of the day.

From Igatpuri, the base village of Bari is just 45 minutes away. You can also come via Kasara railway station and then hire a touring car.

Road: Igatpuri is connected to Mumbai through the NH 3 which goes up from Mumbai to Agra. After reaching Igatpuri, it is just an hour's drive to the base village.

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Tips and Tricks The Bhandardara dam and lake can be visited after a trek to the fort. The lake and the dam lie at a mere 6 kilometres drive from the base village.

Food availability Food is available in the base village.

There is a shop put up by a villager at the plateau at the end of the second ladder, which serves homemade snacks and tea to the trekkers.

Accommodation The accommodation can be arranged in the base village, as the temple of Kalsubai atop the fort can house only three persons at a time. Camping near the Bhandardara dam can be a good idea as well.

Trek Routes After reaching the base village, we need to move in the direction of the peak till we come across a stream of water. After crossing the stream, we come across a small temple. The route which goes up from behind this temple terminates at the top of the fort. The local villagers have put up three large ladders to make the entire trek easier. After climbing through two ladders, we reach a small plateau and a well adjoining it. The climb through the third ladder from this point is a simple affair from this point.

This last ladder takes us to the peak of the fort.

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" It feels good to be lost in the right direction. "

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