Height: 2500 feet
Range: Panvel - Matheran
District: Raigad
Grade: Easy
History: Till 15th century, the Nizamshah had control over this fort. After that, this fort has seen many many rulers, like Shivaji, the Moghuls, Angres and the Peshwas. In 1818, Colonel Procter of the East India Company captured it, and was under the British rule till 1947. The inhabitants of this region are tribal-adivasi people who lead a simple life and have preserved their art form - The Warli paintings, for thousands of years.
Ways to Reach: Reach Panvel by local train/road. From the ST stand, catch any bus going to Alibaug or Pen and get down at the Karnala sanctuary gate.
The Climb: You have to buy an entrance ticket at the counter. Adult fare is Rs.20/-
As you enter the sanctuary, a short walk on the tar road leads to a board depicting information on the fort and the sanctuary. Here the route bifurcates. The left one goes up to the fort, the right leading into the sanctuary. The short climb over rocky route leads to a small col in about 45 mins. from here, the route turns right and leads to the plateau, where the temple of Karmaidevi is situated. From here, the route climbs up and a climb over rocky steps leads us to the entrance of the fort in about 30 mins.
Climbing time: 1 1/2 to 2 hrs
Fascinating spots: From the main entrance, the route bifurcates.
From the left, we can reach the pinnacle and the caves, where numerous water tanks are located. The tanks do not have potable water. Here, the route from the right joins from below at another gate.
Remnants of an old storage rooms are also visible.
Further beyond the pinnacle, the route leads us to 2 bastions. At the entrance of the Southermost machi, is the carving of an ancient legendary animal called "Sharabh".
Forts visible from the top: Prabal, Matheran, Irshalgad, Manikgad, Sankshi
Sometimes, on a clear day, we can also get to see the forts of Peb, Nakhind and the Mumbai Harbour (In the west).
(Prabal, Matheran and Irshalgad)
Drinking water: The water cisterns near the remnants on the top of the fort.
Food: Carry your own food. Else, you can get food near Panvel ST Stand, the village below, or the Karnala restaurant about 10 mins walk further on the highway.
CAUTION: There are lots of bee hives present in summer months on the top of the pinnacle on the Northernmost face. Also, few bee hives are present in the caves. Utmost care must be taken by the trekkers staying in the caves not to disturb them. Also, pinnacle climbers should avoid the northern face and instead use the western or the southern face, as few accidents have occurred in tha past because of the disturbance caused to the bee hives.
Karnala Revisited
--------------------
Participants: Parag, Nishant
29th June was the big match day- The Euro 08 Final, between Germany and Spain. But I had a day to kill time, and as my earlier trek got cancelled, Nishant suggested we go for an easy one dayer to Karnala, as it would serve as a good outing in the monsoon.
So the plan was fixed, and we left early morning to Panvel. We had a heavy breakfast in the hotel near the ST Stand, packed our lunch consisting of half a dozen bananas, and hopped inside the ST going to Alibaug, before the rains could get us completely wet. Half an hour's bus ride, and we were at the entrance of the sanctuary...
I cannot describe, how awesome the air around the sanctuary smelled like.. The light drizzle, and the air was full of the aroma of the wet soil, and pierced by the occassional Tweet-tweet of the various exotic species of birds that reside here. This was going to be a trek-cum-photography practising session for us. We trodded along, capturing the occassional Moth feasting on the leaves, or the giant yellow and red crabs playing hide-n-seek, or the tiniest red or green insects that we in our everyday routine life even fail to see... We happened to pass by a group of experts, probably from the BNHS, and we got a few tips regarding the various insect species. We passed them by, and then met many other groups on the way to the top, groups consisting of naturists, or village kids, or young college girls wearing sandals with heels, and some few Germans... The plethora of the wild species coincided with that of the humans visiting this place.
As we reached the plateau, the rain started to become a bit heavy, and the cool breeze was sending a chill by the back of my neck. Finally we reached the top, and decided to explore the caves at the base of the pinnacle. We found the only dry place on the top, inside a cave near the water tank. We were soon joined by a group of kids from nearby, and as we had our banana-lunch, saw them taking a splash in the cave waters...
We decided to explore the bastions, where all the other groups were having their lunch and photo sessions. I finally managed to get a snap of a snail, which i failed to get while climbing up. After a few mins stay, we decided to return. Nishant's shoes were completely torn, and his chappals were not helping much, as we slipped our way on the slippery smooth wet red soil. Surprisingly, we found the snail, whos photograph i failed to capture while on our way to the top. Finally I did manage to get his snap :)
We reached the highway in an hour or so, and immediately got a ride in a tuk-tuk back to panvel. We had the most amazing fag session afterwards in the cool rain-struck afternoon.. and after hot teas , kothimbir vades and another round of cigs, we made our way back to the station, where luckily we got the 430 pm Andheri local train.
It was such a refreshing experience. I think, everyone should experience the nature by coming for this trek once every monsoon. Karnala and Kanheri caves in the national park are such beautiful and easily accessible places, where a person with good enough fitness can easily climb. After all, everybody needs a break from the regular mundane life.
[p.s. Germany lost to Spain 0-1 :'( :'( ]
Link to the Photo Album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44500&l=35347&id=670750758
--------------------
Participants: Parag, Nishant
29th June was the big match day- The Euro 08 Final, between Germany and Spain. But I had a day to kill time, and as my earlier trek got cancelled, Nishant suggested we go for an easy one dayer to Karnala, as it would serve as a good outing in the monsoon.
So the plan was fixed, and we left early morning to Panvel. We had a heavy breakfast in the hotel near the ST Stand, packed our lunch consisting of half a dozen bananas, and hopped inside the ST going to Alibaug, before the rains could get us completely wet. Half an hour's bus ride, and we were at the entrance of the sanctuary...
I cannot describe, how awesome the air around the sanctuary smelled like.. The light drizzle, and the air was full of the aroma of the wet soil, and pierced by the occassional Tweet-tweet of the various exotic species of birds that reside here. This was going to be a trek-cum-photography practising session for us. We trodded along, capturing the occassional Moth feasting on the leaves, or the giant yellow and red crabs playing hide-n-seek, or the tiniest red or green insects that we in our everyday routine life even fail to see... We happened to pass by a group of experts, probably from the BNHS, and we got a few tips regarding the various insect species. We passed them by, and then met many other groups on the way to the top, groups consisting of naturists, or village kids, or young college girls wearing sandals with heels, and some few Germans... The plethora of the wild species coincided with that of the humans visiting this place.
As we reached the plateau, the rain started to become a bit heavy, and the cool breeze was sending a chill by the back of my neck. Finally we reached the top, and decided to explore the caves at the base of the pinnacle. We found the only dry place on the top, inside a cave near the water tank. We were soon joined by a group of kids from nearby, and as we had our banana-lunch, saw them taking a splash in the cave waters...
We decided to explore the bastions, where all the other groups were having their lunch and photo sessions. I finally managed to get a snap of a snail, which i failed to get while climbing up. After a few mins stay, we decided to return. Nishant's shoes were completely torn, and his chappals were not helping much, as we slipped our way on the slippery smooth wet red soil. Surprisingly, we found the snail, whos photograph i failed to capture while on our way to the top. Finally I did manage to get his snap :)
We reached the highway in an hour or so, and immediately got a ride in a tuk-tuk back to panvel. We had the most amazing fag session afterwards in the cool rain-struck afternoon.. and after hot teas , kothimbir vades and another round of cigs, we made our way back to the station, where luckily we got the 430 pm Andheri local train.It was such a refreshing experience. I think, everyone should experience the nature by coming for this trek once every monsoon. Karnala and Kanheri caves in the national park are such beautiful and easily accessible places, where a person with good enough fitness can easily climb. After all, everybody needs a break from the regular mundane life.
[p.s. Germany lost to Spain 0-1 :'( :'( ]
Link to the Photo Album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44500&l=35347&id=670750758
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