The fort is located between Matheran and Panvel off the Pune-Mumbai highway. The base village, Thakurwadi is about 25kms from Panvel. Legend has it that it was constructed in honor of Queen Kalavantin. It takes about 2-3 hours to reach the top. A heart pounding adventure awaits all you adrenaline junkies.
The trek is easy to begin with until you reach the Prabalmachi plateau which is about the halfway mark. You can relax, fill your tummies and top up water bottles for the way forward.
From here on the path gets precipitous. You will need to navigate steps carved into the mountain’s belly without any support or guard rails whatsoever.
People suffering from Vertigo please avoid this trek!
DO NOT trek during the monsoon, the zigzag steps can get slippery and treacherous. Cling to the rocks if gets windy else you might end up as a bloodied stain on the cliff side! You have nothing to hold on to apart from your dear life and those unanswered prayers.
However once you overcome this arduous trail, you will be rewarded with awe inspiring views of the Sahayadri ranges. A birds eye view of the lush green slopes!
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