Hi Friends,
After being in Mumbai for the last seven years totally tied in profession I couldn’t manage much to explore places around mumbai except Khandala, Lonavla, mahabaleshwar. After a long time few of our colleagues discussed and found Malshej Ghat as the new spot to explore and you wont believe I was totally zapped.
The Kasara local leaving Mumbai CST at 4am reaches Kalyan at 5:40am. At 5:55am there is a bus from Kalyan crossing the Malshej Ghat (usually going to places like Shiroor, Alephata, and Nagar). It takes 45 minutes to reach Murbad, 80 minutes to reach Tokawada where there is a 10 minute halt and 2 and a half hours to reach Khubiphata Khireshwar. Murbad is 30km, Tokawada is 55km and Khubiphata is 91km from Kalyan. Nowadays, till about 9:00pm buses are available from Khubiphata towards Murbad and Kalyan, once every 20 to 30 minutes. One also gets jeeps going towards Tokawada and Murbad till about 8:00pm from Khubiphata area.
A trek in the Malshej Ghat region offers a unique feeling of remoteness and wildness, maybe because this region is less frequented by trekkers. All along the Konkan, the average drop in these mountains is about 900m, and the drops are rather steep. Amazing views can be got from the top of the mountains, of both the Konkan plains, as well as nearby and distant peaks and valleys. But because of less frequent transport connections, one should be careful about the first and last bus.
Malshej Ghat rising to a height of 2362 feet in the Dang Ranges is ’the’ place to experience the magic of the monsoons.
Vibrant shades of green interspersed with numerous silver streaks cascading down the cliff face and the cool mist laden atmosphere is a sure fire stress buster.
In this area, lie some unique places, which have great historical importance.
Some must see spots in this region are Naneghat, Fort Harishchandragad, Konkan kada, Khireshwar lake, Khireshwar temple, Fort Shivneri (the birth place of the great Maratha King, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj). One can also visit Lenyadri and Ozar which are among the eight designated Ganapati shrines on the Ashtavinayak list.
Emerging into this mist covered world from the tunnel at the top of the Ghat, with glimpses of tall rugged mountains towering all around and the breathtaking sight of a flock of flamingoes rising from the monsoon lake, have you convinced of having stumbled upon Mumbai’s very own Shangri-La?