I don't think I am cut out for trekking...
I might as well stick to writing code...
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Chale Chalo....Keep going....the last stretch
leading to the top of Kalsubai |
These were my thoughts after an earlier trek done at Siddhagad in Malshej Ghats region which turned out to be very challenging and slippery due to heavy rains. It was also scary, as there were a couple of traverses to be crossed and most of the trek route was OPEN making every step taken that much more risky. I have written a separate blog on this particular trek experience. After Siddhagad, I was trying to analyze why I struggled with it so much and in talking to other people, experienced trekkers, reading blogs etc, I more or less came to the conclusion that, it was more the rainy terrain and coupled with it the fact that the trek route was open, which made Siddhagad trek that much more challenging. Siddhagad was my second trek, the earlier one being Tikona which was a quite a simple one. So when my friend asked me if I would like to join her on a trek to Kalsubai, which is the highest peak in Maharashtra, I was a bit confused and hesitant. I called up the trek leader and organizer and asked him about the difficulty level of the trek and explained to him the situation I had faced earlier in my Siddhagad trek. He told me that Kalsubai is a high endurance trek but there was nothing to be worried about as as there were no traverses to be crossed or it being dangerously exposed etc. and that it is very doable, if one is fit. I thought over this and finally decided to give this a shot and not let my earlier experience overshadow me too much and went ahead and registered for the trek. I am glad I did this trek, as after I completed this trek successfully, I regained all my confidence back and went on to do other challenging and extreme treks including THE CHADAR TREK in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas and other treks like Harishchandragad etc in the Sahyadris.
About Kalsubai
Kalsubai (कळसूबाई) is a mountain in the Western Ghats, located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It's summit, situated at an elevation of 1646 metres (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 Wildlife Sanctuary.The truncated summit provides a modest area of flat land which holds a sacred temple of a local deity. It is visited throughout the year by Avid Trekkers, Kalsubai Temple Devotees and Wildlife Enthusiasts alike.
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Temple at the Top: Devotees and Trekkers relaxing outside the
temple after reaching the top and visiting the temple
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The mountain can be viewed in its entirety, from Bari village located on its eastern side, about six km from Bhandardara. It can be reached by road, via Igatpuri, on the Mumbai-Nasik route.
The Legend
According to the villagers living at the base of the mountain, a woman name Kalsu was punished by villagers and forced to leave the village, and that, the woman climbed the mountain and started living on it, and later died there, giving the mountain its name. Another story says that Kalsubai was a house maid residing in a nearby village. She is believed to have disappeared near the mountain while trying to escape her employer's relentless torment. This lends the mountain its current name as well as a reason for this temple to be built in her fond memory.
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On the Kalsubai Trek Trail...Navratri Fair set
up for the devotees |
A traditional prayer service is held every Tuesday and Thursday by a priest. During the festival of Navratri a fair is organized each year with many stalls being set up near the summit to provide pooja materials to the devotees. On these special occasions local villagers participate in this fair which helps to supplement their livelihood and as well as provides them an opportunity to revere the mountain.
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On the Trek Trail...Navratri fair set up for the
devotees and trekkers |
Views
From the top of Kalsubai, one can view other forts like Harihargad, Brahmagiri, Anjaneri, Tringalwadi, Kavnai, Vishramgad, Alang, Madangad, Kulang, Ratangad, Harishchandragad etc and also the backwaters of the Bhandardara dam.
About the trek
Our trek group had organized a private transport bus from Dadar TT circle and we all met up and departed Dadar by 11 pm.The bus picked up other trekkers from various other pick-up points along the way and we drove thru the night and reached the base camp of Bari Village by 3am. It takes 3-4 hours drive from mumbai to reach Bari, the base village and since it was night and pitch dark, we didn't even realize when we had reached the base village. We got down the bus, walked for about 15 minutes or so and reached what looked like a rest house. We unloaded our bags and freshened up a bit. Post tea and breakfast of hot poha, we started our trek by 6am.
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| On the Trek Trail...Crossing a lovely stream on the way |
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| Our group on the trek trail...Chale Chalo... |
It was the first day of Navratri and these 9 days are sacred for the locals. We could see many local villagers climbing up, some even with bare feet and some even carrying their kids to the Devi temple at the top for getting the blessings of the Goddess. Also since it was the end of the rainy season, we were greeted by showers off and on throughout the trek.
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Some bright captures on the way as the
sun plays hide and seek with us... |
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| On the trek trail..treated to some amazing views on the way |
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| Views on the trek trail... |
It took us almost 3.5 hours to reach the top and roughly the same time to get back. So be prepared to keep yourself hydrated and fit for a continuous 4-8 hours trek depending on your fitness levels.
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On the trek trail..View of the village from the top with
its colorful Navratri Stalls |
Unfortunately for us, since it was a rainy day, the top was covered in mist and we could not see the other peaks clearly. We spent about an hour or so at the top enjoying the view and visiting the temple, taking pictures etc while also waiting for the other group members to join us.
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| On the trek trail...Group click on the way... |
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| Misty View from the top... |
After that, we started our descent which took us roughly the same time as it took us to get to the top. Since it was raining, the trek was a bit slippery and muddy/slushy too. We reached the base village of Bari by 1pm where a sumptuous village thali/lunch was waiting for us at the village guest house. Post lunch, we started our journey back home to Mumbai by the private transport bus that we had arranged.
Complexity
Kalsubai a high endurance trek and personally, I would rate it as somewhere between moderate and difficult depending on one's fitness but definitely a doable one for most people.
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IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO BE AT THE TOP..
And finally the Group Click at the top |
Since Kalsubai is very famous, enough effort has been made to make this trek experience easy. There are steel railings, chains and ladders at places where it is difficult to climb. There is also a symbolic temple at the top.
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| Steel railings on the way to the top... |
Must Do
It is always great to be at the top and Kalsubai is a must do for every trekker in Maharashtra for the sheer fact that it is the highest peak in Maharashtra.
