Brief Description
The Kalavantin Durg trek is a spectacular adventure to the Kalavantin Durg fortress which was used as a watchtower in the olden days. The trail of this trek is stunning and unique as it zig-zags its way through steep rock steps and is a little dangerous since there is no railing to support you. However, the panoramic views en-route to the pinnacle is amazing giving you the full display of the greenery of the Western Ghats. Those who have vertigo should be careful before planning this trek. This trek is perfect for fit trekkers and experienced ones alike who wish for a quick getaway from Mumbai or Pune, making it the perfect weekend trek. Located on the Prabal plateau the area hosts stunning streams and waterfalls, thus a nature lover's paradise. The best months to undertake the Kalavantin Durg trek is between October and April when the weather is dry. Monsoon season in spite of its unimaginable beauty and greenery is risky due to extremely slippery steps, hence appropriate precaution needs to be taken. Stay on this page for more information on the Kalavantin Durg Trek - Itinerary, FAQs, Pictures, etc.
Gallery
-
Starting point of the trek near Thakurwadi Village
-
Night-halt at the base camp with Kalavantin Durg visible in the background
-
Campsite
-
After trekking for about 45 minutes from the base camp, the trail turns into a steep set of rock-cut stairs
-
This trek is not meant for those with a fear of heights!
-
After climbing the stairs, there's a short rock wall that needs to be tackled with the help of a rope
-
On top of the Kalavantin pinnacle!
-
View while descending
Itinerary
Itinerary
Show complete Itinerary
Mumbai to Thakurwadi Village drive. Trek to Kalavantin base.
We will pick you up from Panvel IST depot at 15:30 hours and drive to the base village of the trek, Thakurwadi. From here we begin our trek to the base of Kalavantin after an introduction and briefing session. Reach the Kalavantin Base and enjoy some night photography. Have a delicious dinner and retire for the night. Overnight in tents.
Kalavantin Base to Kalavantin Summit and back to Thakuwadi Village. Drive to Mumbai.
Wake up early. Have breakfast. Today we start the trek to Kalavantin pinnacle. The hike is vertiginous and the steps are steep with no railing to support. We will reach the top in about 2 hours. After a short rest at the top have lunch and we start to retrace our steps back to Thakurwadi village. Drive back to Panvel railway station. The trip ends here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick your question
Eligibility: Experience required
This trek can be done by beginners as well as experienced trekkers. The overall this trail is easy to cover only the steep steps make this trail a little dangerous.
Eligibility: Fitness benchmark
There is no requirement of extreme fitness training for this trek. If you have basic physical fitness and if you are not scared of heights then you must undertake this trek. Those who have acrophobia should avoid this trek altogether.
Eligibility: Requisite Skills
Basic mountain mannerisms. Basics of knowledge of mountain ascending and descending techniques.
About the activity: Why should I go for this trek?
If you want to explore the Western Ghats and witness the biodiversity and the greenery then the Kalavantin Durg trek is for you. Adventure buffs find this trek especially attractive because of the steep steps climb. There is no railing to support you while climbing the steps. The deadfall on one side makes this trek a favourite among the adrenaline junkies. Giving you panoramic views of the Western Ghats, the Kalavantin Durg Trek can be done by both novice and experienced trekkers. Due to its close proximity to Mumbai and Pune, the Kalavantin Durg is a great weekend getaway trek.
Best Season: What are the best months to visit this trek?
October to March is the best time to undertake this trek. Monsoons are pleasant too, but heavy rains can make the trail dangerous.
Packing List: What to pack
Click here for text packing list.
Connectivity: How to Reach the base of the trek & how to go back from the end point?
By Road: The base camp of this trek is Thakurwadi village. This village can be easily reached from Mumbai. Take the local train from Mumbai to Panvel. A bus ride from the Panvel railway station will take you to Thakurwadi. Alternatively, you can walk towards the Mumbai-Pune expressway from the Panvel railway station and take a shared auto ride till Shedung Phata. At, Shedung Phata another auto ride will take you to Thakurwadi.
Connectivity: What is the cellular network connectivity for this trek?
The cellular network is available in several patches of the trek.
Nearby attraction: What are the nearby attractions that I can explore?
Prabalgad, Kalavantin hill, and Irshalgad they all are in close proximity to each other. Kalavantin hill, as well as Prabalgad, can be done easily if you start trekking by 9 am. And if started at 6, all 3 treks could be done.
Age limit: What is the minimum & maximum age limit?
The minimum age limit is 9 years. However, minors aged between 9 to 17 should be accompanied with their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
Mandatory documents: What are the mandatory documents required for the trek?
No mandatory documents are required for the trek.
Transport: In case we opt for the transport with you, where will you pick us from and where will you drop?
Your pick-up point will be at Panvel ST Depot near Mumbai. Drop off location is the Panvel Station.
Transport: What time will you drop us at the end point on last day of the trek?
Expect to reach Panvel by late evening.
Miscellaneous : Is there an option to offload my backpack?
No, there is no option to offload your backpack.
Miscellaneous : Who will lead us on the trek?
A team of participant will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek. We maintain 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have a certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
Miscellaneous : Is the trekking pole necessary?
No, trekking pole is not necessary.
Miscellaneous : Are there any local stores/shops from where I can shop trekking necessities?
It is recommended that you come prepared with all the stuff. Please do not leave anything for last-minute buying.
Miscellaneous : Is it safe for a solo woman traveller to trek in Fixed departures?
Yes, it is absolutely safe for solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing tent with each other. In case you are the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
Miscellaneous : Will you give certificates on completion of trek?
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
Weather conditions: What will the temperatures be like during this trek?
Monsoon season will see a significant amount of rainfall with temperatures ranging from 30 to 20 degree celsius. Winter months will be much cooler with temperatures dropping down to as low as 10 degrees at night.
Weather conditions: When will there be snow on this trek?
No, there will be no snow on this trek.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of tents and sleeping bags will be provided to us?
We use four-season Gipfel tents and sleeping bags. If you carry your own sleeping bag, you will get a cashback reward, provided that you inform us as soon as you have booked your trek.
Equipment and facilities: Are there any washroom/toilet facilities on the trek?
Toilet tents will be provided to you on the trek.These are portable toilets tents where a deep pit will be dug. A shovel will be provided inside the tent to cover the waste after you have made your business. You can take a toilet roll inside. Make sure you dig used toilet paper along with the waste. Though water is recommended in place of toilet paper. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are non-biodegradable. There will be no facility for bathing on the trek. Go through our blog section for tips on how to maintain personal hygiene on treks.
Equipment and facilities: If we trek in snow, what equipment will you provide?
There will be no snow on this trek.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of food will be provided for the trek?
Vegetarian food will be served throughout the trek. The only non-vegetarian item served on our treks are eggs. Our kitchen staff follows a proper menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfil the nutritional requirements of the participants. There will be milk, poha, eggs, muesli/corn flakes, bread and butter served for breakfast. Rice or simple roti sabzi will be packed for lunch. In dinner, you will have dal, egg curry or any other vegetarian dish along with rice, roti, and a dessert item. Packed lunch will be provided to you on the days you are trekking. You are requested to carry your own tiffin box and a mug to consume food. The meals consumed on journey and arrival day are not included in our cost.
Equipment and facilities: What equipment can I rent from you?
You can rent the following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack
Accommodation: What will be the accommodation type in this trek?
Accommodation on trek days is in tents on a twin sharing basis.
Packing List: How should I pack my rucksack?
Packing List: How should I select my trekking shoe?
Why Bikat
Why Bikat
Learning Experience
- We are an Adventure Learning Organisation first.
- We want you to not just complete a trek safely but also pick up some basic trekking knowledge and skills along the way.
- To achieve this we have integrated learning modules into our itineraries.
- These modules will help you build the necessary skills to progress from trekking to mountaineering over time.
Loyality Programs
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
- Currently we have three levels:
- Basic Membership
- Summiteer Membership
- Leader Membership
Personalized Attention
- Our group sizes on treks don’t exceed 15 members in order to maintain a healthy Participants : Leader Ratio of 8:1.
- Over time we have found this number to be optimum when it comes to ensuring personalised attention to every member of our group.
- On mountaineering expeditions this number is even smaller. Our group sizes are capped at 12 members ensuring a Participants : HAP Ratio of 2:1.
Best Expedition Leaders
- Our Expedition leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified, specially trained in rescue procedures from NIM and certified first-aid responders.
- Even our local guides are certified first-aid responders.
Eco-friendly Practices
- Group sizes are capped at 15 people.
- Batch sizes are capped at 250 people per trail per season.
- We follow a rolling campsite model.
- We are constantly exploring and introducing new trails to reduce the burden on existing ones.
Safety
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
- To ensure this:
- Every region of ours is mapped with an emergency evacuation plan.
- The equipment we use is UIAA certified.
- Our trek leaders are AMC certified with specialisation in rescue procedures.
- Our support staffs are trained in first aid as well.
Reviews
What's Included
Whats Included
- Meals during Trek
- Forest Permits/Camping Charges , if any (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
- Safety Equipment
- Trek guide, cook, helpers.
- Services of a Trek Leader
- Accommodation during the trek (Tents/Guesthouses)
- Transportation from Mumbai to the base and back to Mumbai
Whats Not Included?
- Meals during road journeys
- Cost of any kind of travel insurance
- Any expense of personal nature
- Any expense not specified in the inclusion list
- Portage of personal rucksacks
Cancellation Policy
Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Voucher Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Please note
- Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers.
- This is only a brief of cancellation terms. For finer details please refer Detailed Cancellation Policy.
Blog Posts
How to Choose the perfect pair of Trekking Shoes?
Sarthak Madan 21 May 2021
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Your choice of trekking shoes can make your trek a blissful or blister-full experience based on how well it fits you. A good pair of trekking shoes is the most essential piece of equipment you will use while hiking.&n
Read More
Experiential
