Kalsubai Peak, the highest peak of Maharashtra, is one of the top destinations for trek-lovers. People who love adventure and love climbing mountains must have heard of this place. This trek is not exactly for beginners, however, if you’re a brave heart and hell-bent on trying something adventurous, this trek is for you.

Monsoon Trek

Kalsubai Peak, in the Kalsubai mountain range close to the main Sahyadri range is the highest peak in Maharashtra. A famous temple situated on the top of the mountain gives the spectacular peak its name. Monsoon is the perfect season to trek here, as it’s the only time you will get to enjoy lush greenery as you trek to the surreal top.

Difficulty Level

Trekking towards the highest peak in Maharashtra is not an easy one. Even though beginners can attempt it, it will be fairly easy for experienced trekkers. This challenging but energetic trek will test your patience, as you fight for breath but relish the panoramic view of the other mountain ranges surrounding it.

Packing List

• Trekking bag or rucksack or backpack
• Extra clothes & socks (not necessary)
• Water bottle
• Glucon-d or other hydrating drinks
• Windcheater or rain jacket
• Good trekking/sports shoes (sandals, chappals, floaters not permitted)
• Torch (If you stay overnight)
• Camera
• Napkin or tissue papers
• Cap, shades/goggles/sunglasses

For first time trekkers

• There are no toilets at the top. The only washroom you will find is in Bari village.
• Do not carry unnecessary or valuable items
• Avoid wearing chappals or slippers or flip flops for the trek
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol amidst nature. Even though you might be a responsible citizen and won’t litter, you might encourage irresponsible people to do the same who will end up littering the place and causing a nuisance.

My Experience

It was the rainy season, and one of the best things to do in the rains is going trekking. One of my friends suggested, we go for Kalsubai Trek and all of us loved the idea.

We left in the morning on Mumbai Nashik Highway. At one of our halts, we met another rider who was on his way to Kalsubai trek too, we asked him to tag along with us. The ride was super smooth, on the huge highway with never-ending roads.

The trek starts from a small village called Bari. You have to park your vehicles here before moving forward for the trek. No vehicles allowed after this point.

We parked our bikes at one of the local houses, who also serve food. You need to order the food before you leave for the trek, so that the food is ready by the time you reach the base. We ordered some chicken curry and chapatis for dinner before beginning the trek.

The best part about trekking is the company. You will make many friends on the way, and one of them was a cute little fur baby. He walked with us all the way to the top.

It takes approximately 4 hours to get to the top and come back down. There’s a temple on the top. The trek almost killed us all, we could hardly breathe and our stomach was wrenched. But the view from top was worth it. The cool air removed all the tiredness and we were suddenly fresh.

We were super excited about the chicken curry that we had ordered earlier. Unfortunately, the food was not fresh. The curry had no chicken pieces and the chapatis were not freshly made. I would suggest you carry your own food whenever you go trekking in Maharashtra. Or, you can order something safe like dal rice.

We were exhausted from the trek. We changed our clothes and slept at one of the farmhouses that are available there for rent. They charged us INR 200 per head. Early the next morning, we left for Mumbai leaving behind just memories and a sense of achievement.