Kalsubai, almost everyone in Maharashtra would have heard this name. This is the highest mountain in Maharashtra which is not only famous amongst trekkers but also locals and devotes in the vicinity for an ancient temple on the peak!
Every year, thousands of people from the state climb this peak all year round. More usually, the peak is crowded, especially during the weekends.
I decided to go for it during peak monsoon as that's my favorite season, especially around Mumbai when all the mountains are so clean, clear and green with rivers flowing at their brink along with hundreds of smaller and larger waterfall all around!
How to reach
The most common route is trekking up the peak from the base village Bari, which is approx 3.5 hours drive from Mumbai. It takes around 5-6 hours to trek up and come back for a reasonably fit trekker for a 13 km total run.
You can either do it in a day, starting very early in the morning from Mumbai, drive to the base village, complete the trek and drive back, reaching back to Mumbai late in the night OR travel to Igatpuri or even the base village a day before in the evening, stay overnight, complete the trek next day, and drive back.
During warm months and summers, people usually prefer to trek the peak in the night, or late evening to avoid the heat, which is equally possible.
If you are looking to use public transport, you can take local train to Kasara and than take a shared taxi to Bari or Bhandardara which is just 6 km from Bari.
What I did:
We decided to drive to Igatpuri in the evening, stayed overnight and then drove to Bari in the morning to start our trek.
It rained throughout the day, and I really enjoyed my trekking up the peak besides the route was completely into shambles and slippery all the way up! It was a holiday, hence hundreds of people were climbing on the day, creating jams at the stairs which are put up in the route along with the last section of the peak wherein only one person can climb up at a time!
Honestly, it wasn't very safe in terms of the condition of the stairs installed along with number of people trying to hang on them at a time!
Nonetheless, we really enjoyed our time trekking in absolutely beautiful weather with low hanging clouds, crossing overflowing river and enjoying a gushing waterfall om our way 😊
Tips:
Try and stay overnight instead of doing it all in a day
You can drive around a bit to explore the area as it is quiet breathtaking during monsoons
Wear a good quality waterproof trekking shoe as the route becomes unbelievably slippery during rains, I saw many people slipping and tripping all the way up and down!
Carry a good quality rain coat as rains are really crazy in Maharashtra during peak monsoons
Do try a local meal at the base, it is quite authentic and filling
Cost
Transport : Rs 1000 (own vehicle)
Stay: Rs 800
Food: Rs 200
Feel free to ask any specific questions you have :)