(This particular trek began with us heading to Prabalgad, but ended with us sitting atop Kalvintini.)
Height: 2300ft.
Route: (train) Bandra →Wadala → Panvel → (bus) Vashile → Shedung Phata → (rick) Thakurwadi → (walk) Kalvintini
For Akshay, Mamma, Ashith and Asmat, the journey began with the local to CST. I joined them at and in a short while we alighted at Wadala station and sat waiting for the train to Panvel. From Panvel we had to get to Thakurwadi by ST bus which meant waiting for anhour at the depot. So we boarded the bus to Vashile and got off at Shedung Phata from where we caught a rickshaw to Thakurwadi. Once we alighted, we began our trek.
The path uphill has quite a few diversions and it’s easy to go off track. Ask the locals for directions, if you meet anyone, that is. At many places the path is roughly tarred and quite clear. After a while we passed what must have been a waterfall (if it was raining), the remains of an old fort and a little shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman. At this point stone steps take the place of the beaten path.
There is also a lovely, green plateau from where you get a great view of the villages in the distance. It’s a pretty sight.
Next, we made our way through a thick cluster of bushes and shrubs and found ourselves facing the little village of Prabalmaach
We found two very willing little tykes to be our guides from this point on. We cut through the village and continued our climb up what we thought was Prabalgad, but, as we later learned, we somehow took a wrong turn and moved towards Kalvantini.
On reaching a cluster of rocks, our guides left us to fend for ourselves, so we stopped a while wondering which way to go as there wasn’t any clear path in sight.
After a moment’s thought, we decided on a path and climbed using both, our hands and our feet. The soil was quite loose and slippery due to the monsoons and it was very important to find a firm foothold/grip. Also, I had made the mistake of wearing jeans. As it is, they are heavy, and I’d added to their weight by frisking about in what little water was trickling down the waterfall. Now, I didn’t know whether to hold my pants up or hold a rock to keep myself from slipping.
After much slipping, sliding and climbing we finally reached the top. Almost. All that was left now was a steep flight of steps cut into the rock and the peak beyond. We first sat and ate a light lunch of parathas and cheese before Mamma and Akshay decided to conquer the final peak. I stayed back because I’m chicken. Climbing up is no problem for me, but my feet refuse to move when it comes to getting back down, especially if the climb is very narrow and steep. So, the chicken stayed back to admire the many butterflies that were flitting about while the two mountain-goats tripped up the final peak.
(I must inform you at this point that Ashith and Asmat had left us a long time ago as Asmat wasn’t feeling all that well.)
Soon, the two brave mountaineers came back looking rightly proud for having completed the trek successfully. We then re-traced our steps and headed back to the base. Somewhere along the way, Akshay’s shoes decided to die and set free their soles. Mamma managed to hold them together with kerchiefs and shoe laces making his feet look like two, very ugly Christmas presents.
From Thakurwadi we took an ST bus to Panvel station and boarded a train home.
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