Prabalgad

Trekking Sep 2008 :: Prabalgad [Trekking around Panvel]

I very eagerly longed for a Trek to Prabalgad and JanSeva Samiti was scheduled to go there on 28th Sep 2008. I had Ruturaj, Amol, Gauri, Neeraj, Swati and Vikrant joining in for this trek. But somehow Amol Rajoba and Ruturaj had to cancel their plans and Gauri ditched at the last moment! This trip had fascinated me, bcoz I always wanted to catch a glimpse of Kalavantin Durg, which if possible would have been an additional trek on the same day.

Also not to forget the sight of lovely Lavender Karvy’s – once-in-eight-years bloom. Karvy flowers bud… The purplish blue flower with a tinge of pink is in the bloom right now and it is a dazzling sight. What makes it even more beautiful is the fact that it blooms only once in eight years. The life history of Karvy plants is interesting. Each year the plant comes alive with the advent of Monsoon,and once the rains are over, what is left behind is dry and dead-looking stems.This pattern repeats itself for seven years. In the eighth yr, the plant explodes into mass flowering. All throughtout the patch it seemed like the honey bees were busy collecting the Karvy nectar (this flower also has special honey with significant medicinal values).

Kalavantin Durg (my next trekking destination..this Winter – I am bound to go there on a Biking and Trekking event) Take a look at the gallery – If you can zoom in to notice the stairs to the top – Kalavantin trek its gonna be difficult for amateurs. Places visible in this stretch are : Malanggad, Ganesh-Kartik, Navra Navri-cha-dongar, Chanderigad, Vikatgad(Peb), Nakhind, Matheran (Panorama Point) .. and other misc places around. Also, Salman Khan’s abode ( with two private lakes and his farm houses) a bird’s eye view of this place can be seen in the gallery.

On top of it, I found the Swarovski Crystals repository.. and a different view of those glittering diamonds.. entirely beautiful and irresistible – I had to capture them, you need to take a closer look at them – you wouldn’t wanna count them. Tats all I can say – you can seee the world through crystal eyes and experience the fascinating world of Swarovski crystal :p

Prabalgad
Photos: 109
Height: 2300 ft
Time: ~3 hrs from Thakurwadi, Base Village
Location: Prabalgad is a fort located near Panvel..
Details: Fort Prabalgad is situated on northeast side of Panvel, on Mumbai-Pune road. Can see it frm express highway a V-Shaped one. The Left one is Kalwantin Durg & right side is Prabalgad. But there is a dense forest on the way till the the top of fort Prabal. Historical references indicate that Freedom fighter Umaji Naik made a stay here in 1826.