Kalsubai Peak / Mount Kalsubai - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 12 km from Bhandardara, 165 km from Mumbai & 174 km from Pune, Kalsubai Peak is a mountain peak in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. This is one of the popular places of trekking in Maharashtra, and among the must include places in Bhandardara tour packages.

The peak of Kalsubai perched at an altitude of 5400 feet (1646 m) and it is the highest peak in Maharashtra. The peak lies within the Kalsubai Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the best places to visit in Bhandardara for adventure enthusiasts. The peak is a small plateau and offers a commanding view of nearby forts and Bhandardara Dam. It was used for keeping watch on their enemies during the Maratha rule in the region. Kalsubai Temple is Located at the topmost peak of the Sahyadri mountain range of Maharashtra.

Mount Kalsubai is a famous trekking destination in Maharashtra. The trekking route attracts a large number of visitors, some to conquer the highest peak in Maharashtra, some trek to Kalsubai to visit Mandir and offer prayers to local deity Kalsubai. The temple houses an old well, where the water level never drops below 3 feet. A religious fair is organized by the locals at this temple during Navratri.

To reach the summit there are various trekking routes. The most popular route starts from the village of Baari which is about 10 km from Bhandardara. To reach the base village of Baari, one has to travel to Igatpuri on the Mumbai Nashik route. The Waki River, a tributary of Pravara, takes origin on its eastern slope and flows like a stream through the outer fringes of Baari. There is a Hanuman temple near the stream and it provides an important landmark to commence the trek as well as a resting post for those returning from their trek. The route from this temple takes the trekkers straight to the summit. The trek along this route is a mix of easy to moderate slopes as well as treacherous rocky outcrops overlooking the valley below. Authorities have built three iron ladders along the vertical hill slopes to make the trekking route convenient and safe. It takes 3 hours to reach the Kalsubai summit from Baari village.

One can also do a night trek in winter and enjoy the beautiful sunrise at Kalsubai. It gets very cold atop Kalsubai with strong wind. There are some shops which sell some snacks and packaged drinking water.

The best time for the Kalsubai trek is from September to February.

Timings: 24 Hours

Entry: Free