5 Reasons to do Kalsubai Trek

Overview 

Kalsubai peak nestled in the Western Ghats at a distance of 155 km from Mumbai is the highest peak in the state of Maharashtra. This peak looms high at an elevation of 5,400 ft and requires you to cover a trekking trail of 6 km from base to the top of the peak. Trekkers usually prefer starting their journey mid-night so that you can get a view of early morning around 5 am.

Kalsubai trek is adorned with pleasant fields and green grassland which makes up for a peaceful walk amidst nature. The most thrilling part of the trek involves you climbing on the iron ladder to cross the vertical rocks and rough terrain. The most awaited view from the top offers many prominent places and mountain peaks like Ratangad Fort and Sahyadri range. Apart from that you can also spot Harishchandragad, Alang Madan Kulang, Wilson Dam and Ajoba Parvat. If you take a little detour, you can enjoy the Bhandardara Lake camping as well.

Trek Distance: 6 Km

Trek Altitude: 5,400ft

Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

Best Season: All around the year.

Distance from Mumbai: 155 km

Reasons to do Kalsubai Trek 

Kalsubai caters to every aspect of trekking, from astounding views to the rich flora and fauna on your trail. The sunset and sunrise are otherworldly after you reach the top of the highest peak in Maharashtra. From the very start Kalsubai is a pleasant ascent right till the top. If you wish to introduce more challenges, then Kalsubai has got you covered with its two trekking trails, one being more difficult than the other. Listen to the song of nature as you are deep in the forest with occasional spotting of water streams running down. Here are our top 5 reasons, among many others, to do Kalsubai Peak Trek

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Spectacular view of the Fort

Kalsubai trek offers a fun packed destination full of natural treats like waterfalls, lush forests and lastly the landscape of many forts from a bird’s eye point of view. You will see many historic forts like Ratangad, Alang Madan Kulang and Ajoba. The monsoon season might hinder the view with its misty fog. On a clear day, other forts like Harihargad and Harishchandragad are also visible.

Peace and Quietness of the fields 

As you enter the Bari village on your trail you will be greeted with the quaint little farming village. The start of your journey is marked with the most beautiful shades of green. Walk through these farms and grassland with nothing but tranquillity. This stretch of the trail is like a piece of cake when compared to the difficulty level of the trek and you can just enjoy the company of nature away from the cities.

Climb the vertical rocks

Coming to the adventurous part of the trek, you need to cross four steep iron ladders to climb the vertical rocks on your trail. This ladder was implanted by the locals and Forest Department to help the trekker in their hike and reach the top. However, this narrow ladder serves as the single route for your ascent and descent making it challenging to cross over with two-way traffic. Also, if you plan to visit Kalsubai during monsoon, watch out for slippery climbs on this ladder.

Kalsubai Devi Temple

The Kalsubai Temple is considered auspicious by many locals around the nearby villages. Devotees seek blessing from the Kalsubai Devi after a strenuous hike of around 4-5 hours. The folklore says that this temple was made by the villagers to honour a girl named Kalsubai who used to cure villagers and animals. When she left for the hike to the top but never returned, locals paid tribute to her with a small temple at the top.

All-rounder Trek 

Kalsubai trek with moderate difficulty is open to all and hence anyone can do this trek. You can pick any one route out of the two- Bari village and Indore route. The former is a popular one and offers a relatively pleasant trek to do with your family. On the other hand, the latter is comparatively difficult for all the thrill seekers.

This one-day trek will provide you with a refreshment in your monotonous life. If you want to see the greenery, go for the monsoon season or else September to October for rich flora and fauna. If you want to stay overnight for camping then November to May are the best months.