Sunday, November 16, 2008

Kalsubai ( Marathi: कळसुबाई )

Kalsubai ( Marathi: कळसुबाई ) is the highest peak of the Sahyadris in Maharashtra.



To reach the summit there are various trekking routes and animal tracks. The main route starts from the village of Bari which is about six km from Bhandardara.


To reach Bari, one has to travel to Igatpuri on the Mumbai Nasik route. From Igatpuri take the early morning bus (at around 5.30 am from the Igatpuri Bus Stand) going towards Pune and alight at Bari.



It usually takes three hours to reach the top from Bari. Soon after leaving Bari, a small stream is crossed followed soon after by a Hanuman temple. The route from behind this temple takes the hiker straight to the summit. There are three iron ladders along this route.



There is a well near the last iron ladder as one approaches the top but the water is not potable during the summer.











The rest of the route is without water, so it is best to fill water bottles in Bari. It is an easy hike, but parts of it are quite steep in places.



At the summit is a small temple of Kalsubai, which can seat just three people. The vastly spread out backwaters of Bhandardara attracts ones attention from the top. To the north of the mountain range forts such as Ramsej, Harihar, Brahmagiri, Anjaneri, Ghargad, Bahula, Tringalwadi, Kavnai can be seen. To the east one can spot Aundha, Vishramgad,Bitangad, to the west Alang, Madan, Kulang, Ratangad (south west) and to the south Pabhargad, Ghanchakkar, Harishchandragad can be seen.

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