Mumbai Trekkers

Grade : Moderate

Region : Panvel

Base village : Thakurwadi

Landmark : Panvel

Number of Routes :

North Ascend, Poinj Route, Waghachi Nali are the few routes.

Highest Altitude : 2300 Feet (700m)

Trek Duration : 4 hours of ascend and 3 hours of descend

Surrounding Peaks : Irshalgad, Matheran

Ideal Season : June to February (Monsoon months are good weather wise and Winter months for clear views)

Major Attarction :

Sunrise from Top of Prabalgad, Iconic View of Kalavantin Pinnacle from Prabalgad, Thrilling Rock Cut Stairs Climb at Kalavantin, View of Chanderi, Nakhind, Matheran Range of Mountains on Clear day. Kala Buraj, Borichi Sond. The summit of the fort is a huge plateau covered with dense forest. There is a temple of Lord Ganesh and 2-3 water tanks here. Lot of points of Matheran can be seen from the top.

Water Sources :

You will get some water near Prabalmachi Village from the flowing water streams in Monsoon and Post Monsoon Months.

Special thing about structure/route :

The beauty of this trek is the amazing rock cut steps zig-zag way up to the mountain to take you to the top of the fort.

Other Special thing :

Small Waterfall is accessible in Monsoon months near the Start of the trail from Thakurwadi.

History Info :

Ancient Name & Meaning (if any) :

Kalavantin is also known as Kelve Teen, Kalavantinicha Sulka, or Kalavantin Pinnacle. Prabalgad is also known as Muranjan and Pradhangad

Era :

The Prabalgad Fort was built by the Bahmani Sultanate to keep an eye on the Panvel Fort and the Kalyan Fort in the North Konkan area. Around 1458 A.D, "Malik Ahmad" the prime minister of the kingdom of Ahmednagar, took over the fort during his conquest of Konkan. After disintegration of the Bahmani Sultanate, the fort remained with the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. During the collapse of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, Shahaji led a helping hand against the separate forces of the Mughal Empire and the Adil Shahi dynasty. After the collapse of the Sultanate, he moved to Muranjan along with his wife Jijabai and son Shivaji for a brief period of time. The fort was previously known as Muranjan until it was taken over and renamed by the Maratha forces under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's rule.

Brief War History :

When the Mughals and Adilshah of Bijapur led an attack on King Shahaji who was then a Nizam commander, he took a refuge in Kondhana and Murumbdev hills. Later he approached the Siddi of Janjira and the Portuguese of Chaul for help but he met no success. Thus at last he took refuge in Prabalgad fort with his wife Jijabai and his younger son King Shivaji in 1636. When the Mahuli treaty was signed, North Konkan region fell into the hands of Mughals but Adilshah still had a direct control over it. Later in 1656 when Shivaji Maharaj took over Jawali region by defeating Chandrarao More, at the same time the commander of Shivaji, Abaji Mahadeo took control over Kalyan, Bhiwandi to Cheul and Rayri and that time Muranjan came under the Maratha reign. The fort was then renamed to Prabalgad. In 1665, according to the treaty of Purandar Prabalgad was included in the 23 forts handed over to the Mughals. Mirzaraje Jaisingh, the Rajput commander of the Mughals who looked after the treaty appointed Kesharsingh Hada as the fort in-charge. When the treaty was broken, Marathas attacked Prabalgad and Kesharsingh was killed. Before that the Rajput ladies adopted “johar” i.e. laying one’s own body on the pyre. The mother of Kesharsingh and his two sons were found hiding in the trees who were then handed over to the Mughals in Deoolgaon village unharmed. Lot of treasure was found on the fort during restoration work. In the year 1826, Umaji Naik, a freedom fighter and his associates were believed to have made the fort as their home for a brief period of time.