Trekking after a long time

Trekking reminds me of the infinite times my friend Parin has asked me to come along. Some routine or not so routine work kept coming in the way.

That day when Parin messaged me that he has arranged a trek near Panvel. I was sure i dint want to miss this, I had started preparing for the trek almost 1 week ago. I was sure that undertaking such arduous journey without warm up is going to be tough. After all I was trekking after almost 3 years.

As told my him, I met Parin near Panvel station by around 0630 AM.  We were a group of 30 people. Parin, through a group of trekkers has become a pro in organizing such trek. I met my old friend Miket, Rahul from podar college. Miket has now engaged and he had got his fiance Prati in the trek too. After Meeting we took a tum-tum from Panvel station to base village Baelwali. Its a 1/2 hour ride. Upon reaching there, Parin surprized us with a pack of idlis for everyone and a cake. A sumptuous meal and few introductions bygone, we progressed with the peak in mind.

Panvel Taluk, Raigad District

Kalavintini Peak (Left)

The reclusive peak called Kalavintinicha Durg or Kalavintinicha Sulka (कलाविंतीनीचा सुळका ) is a offshoot on the mane of  Prabalgad Fort. It overlooks the Panvel taluka of Raigad District. There is a base area at the mid of the trekking route called kalavintini maachi. Maachi in marathi means a small plateau like structure near a Mountain. I remember this from garud maachi during the Godrej days :-)

Anyways we progressed as a odd motley of 30 something people, some of us were well past college life, some were entrepreneurs, Startup magicians, Athletes, Boxers, Trekkers, College-goers, office-goers There were Podarites too who made me remember my old days. Initial euphoria gave way to some earnest walk. the road was not difficult per se, but the route was uneven. Parin told us that after some height we could see salman khan private cricket ground too. In the age of selfies and instant photography. The pace was slowed by entourage wanting to click the next FB pic. To be honest, even I, would be charged as guilty here.

There were 2 shortcut via the crevice in the mountain. I decided to save my energy for the pinnacle instead. The teenagers of the group and the daily trekkers were glad they climbed the "shortcut". Looking down on my gone years and looking up on the people who reached before me via shortcut, I was overjoyed by the view kalavintini-maachi offered.

Friends .... on the way

Here I made good friends with Alston, Chinmay Swaansh & Geo. All 4 photo-happy 16 years olds, and best of friends from Vasai. It is the insatiable hunger for Photos, Photobombs and Poses that made me gel well with them very soon, I was too like this few years ago. The 5th or so reminders from Parin was all that made us realize that it was well past 1 hour that we are only on maachi. Having some tea and getting some energy, we decided to bare it all and walk to the peak. This part of the trek is a little difficult. the road consist of huge boulders and continuous big rocks. Helping each other, we swiveled through the rocky terrain. Gust of wind grew strong and there was a light drizzle, that I remember- THE ONE AND ONLY RAIN that day.


There is a place on the incline where the road become solitary. narrow cracks in rock make an impression of a one way road up. This is where Kalavintini Peak starts. The way breaks in the middle to give way to natural steps created by chiseling on the the durg's body. I remember reading before, that, on a cloudy day, this part is called like "A stairway to heaven." but the clouds did not put up such a show for us. All the time we were trekking, the thought of how simple the trek upward is and how almost impossible, downwards it would be, was raging in our mind. Parin, at his motivational best reaffirmed that descent was as easy as ascent to the peak

Yuhoo !! I made it

Looking at the ever closing gap between the peak and me, I kept moving on. finally after 1 hour more, I reached the peak.... Yuhoo!! I made it.... The view from top was amazing. As i was standing there watching the landmass below my feet, One of the thought grazed through my mind -

"Reach the mountain top, not for the world to see you.....But for you to see the world"


We had shared lunch, as each one of us had brought something from home. There was a little further peak which was now occupied by a marauding army of more trekkers. So I decided to call the day and wait there. we shed our tired looks by catching some 40 winks till some of our group went on the final pinnacle. Then we clicked some more photos. (not the last in the journey)

Now the moment everyone was thinking about. "ऊपर तोह आगये आब वापस कैसे जायएंगे ". On hindsight, the descent was not difficult, but the road as narrow and it was was also steep. Add to that the sinking feeling of looking down the deep george below while climbing down. Also as there were lot of people (more trekkers) who were climbing up. So it was difficult to give them way in the limited place. However talking with friends on the way down did help relax the tense nerves a bit. On difficult jumps we used "controlled slip". Controlled Slip is a way by which you let body slip under gravity over the rocks so that it does not trip over.. soiling our clothes and helping each other, we made it safely below the peak. the way from kalavinti maachi to baelwadi was a cakewalk. It was almost 6 PM when we reached the base village

Our legs had now given up. The Vasai people had one direct train from Panvel. So it was intended that we reached Panvel station by 6.30 PM.Our ride back to Panvel was still elusive. so we gorged on some more eating material brought to us by the group members. Finally the rickshaws arrived. Making our way through the small uneven roads,we were horribly delayed. but managed to reach till 6.45PM at Panvel station.

View from "Maachi"

at the close of a great Sunday, As I and others waited for the train to leave the Panvel Station, my heart was filled with fondness and pride.....

Fondness for the friends that i will miss and Pride for the peak I conquered today...

All Thanks to Parin and Our Next Trek Group...
If you want to have such a great experience visit- Our Next Trek