PrabalGad 23rd September 2006

Prabalgad: near panvel

participants: Ketan,Sudeep, Aniket and Kshitij

After a long hiatus I finally returned back to Trekking. I thought I will be way behind the stalwarts like aniket and Sudeep.I did, but not much thats good news for me. We headed for Prabalgad near panvel on bikes saturday morning. Frankly I had never drove more than 40 Kms in one stretch and add to that road conditions between airoli and nerul; it was diffrent experince altogether.

We took small brek at datta snacks near JNPT junction after panvel.
We were able to see Prabal and kalavantin from that spot.We took another 30-40 minutes to reach the base of the fort and then parked our bikesunder banyan tree. Prabalgad is the place where many people had lost their ways before. Aniket himself had dont this till prabal machi but couldnt find the way in earlier attempt. Guide from prabalmachi is MUST; otherwise you will lose important time to explore prabal. we took around 1 hour to reach prabala machi. The way is simple and this could be very good trek fro beginners or for the people who just want to chill out there. There is no way to miss the route till prabal machi. There are two small villages (aadivaasi pada). Prabal machi is very nice plateu and extended for another 1/1.5 kms in length. Prabala and kalavantin are two forts and kalavantin looks like temple top from the base. There are steps all the way to top; bit slippery in monsson and famous 26 th July has done some damage on that route too.

We had small banana break and snaps session at prabal machi. We met our guide; negotiated for his fee :). We are really bad at that. I know one enterpreuner friend; must get hold of this NEGOTIATION issue; am sure he can teach me some fundas about them. anyways where were we..The started trek for prabal from prabal machi. This climb is quite tough. at some places we had climbed for around 60/70 degrees angle. I started lagging :). Soon after 25-30 minutes we reached the spot where a CAVE was found some years back. I dont know the exact details. We started to explore it; but found its full of mud and we love our LOOKS. Kalluram informed us that it can accommodate 200 people inside and you can also stand up..need not crawl once you are through first 20 fts (if we had tried that it would have been absolute makeover for each one of us :d) yeh Kalluram was our guide from prabal machi.

It took heavy toll on my body to reach the peak up there. we took around 70 minues to reach the top of the fort. There were many bifurcations on the way to prabal and one could easily get lost on this way. Also it was really good steep climb. I was still walking and asked Kshitij how much more and then realized we have arrived on top :D. To all readers..there is hardly anything to see up there;but its a big big plateu and there is a way that leads to matheran too.We visited ancient ganesh Mandir there.

We had planned to visit kalavantin fort after reaching machi but aniket and sudeep had meeting to attend at 5 in the evening. we started our descent to prabal machi; finished good lunch (courtesy Aniket's mom) and reached the base in nother 40 minutes. Headed back to return route on bikes and on the way lost the company. Kshitij muct have reached home before than us; thanks to his skilled rash driving. Somehow I feel one day trek are better than 2-3 days. am back to business...wait for next story soon