5/5 Girish S. 1 year ago on Google
Kalavantin
Durg
is
a
2,250
ft
(686
m)
high
summit
located
in
the
Western
Ghats,
near
the
Prabalgad
fort
in
the
Raigad
district
of
Maharashtra,
India.
It
is
also
known
as
Kelve
Teen,
Kalavantinicha
Sulka,
or
Kalavantin
Pinnacle;
alternative
transliterations
include
Kalawantin,
Kalavati,
and
Kalavanti.
It
is
a
popular
trekking
destination.There
is
a
series
of
steps
leading
to
the
top
of
the
pinnacle,
but
little
is
known
about
the
history
of
structure.
According
to
local
guides,
it
was
built
for
a
queen
called
Kalavantin
in
the
15th
century,
around
the
same
time
as
the
neighbouring
Prabalgad.
In
Marathi
language
the
word
"Durg"
means
fort.
Although
it
is
called
as
"Kalavantin
Durg",
there
is
no
fort.
Kalavantin
is
a
pinnacle
which
was
used
by
the
ruler
to
have
watch
on
surrounding
area.The
trek
to
the
top
of
the
Kalavantin
Durg
is
considered
one
of
the
most
challenging
ones
in
the
Western
Ghats.
The
summit
is
accessible
via
a
3
km
(2
mile)
hike
from
the
Thakurwadi
village
in
Karjat
taluka.
After
Prabalmachi
village
(2
km;
1ΒΌ
miles
from
Thakurvadi),
the
hike
route
diverges
into
two
paths:
the
shorter
one
towards
Kalavantin
Durg,
and
the
longer
one
towards
Prabalgad
fort.The
route
to
the
Kalavantin
top
is
a
roughly
60-degree
incline,
and
involves
climbing
rock-cut
steps
that
are
as
high
as
2
feet.
Accidental
deaths
of
trekkers
In
December
2016,
27-year
old
Hyderabad-based
trekker
Rachita
Gupta
Kanodia
died
during
a
trek
to
Kalavantin
Durg
and
Prabalgad.
Her
body
was
found
around
10
days
after
her
death.
She
had
earlier
climbed
the
Kalavantin
Durg
in
September,
and
is
suspected
to
have
fallen
off
from
the
Prabalgad
peak.
In
February
2018,
27-year
old
Pune-based
trekker
Chetan
Dhande
fell
to
death
while
15
feet
away
from
the
top
of
the
Kalavantin
Durg.Several
other
climbers
witnessed
his
fall,
and
his
body
was
discovered
nearly
four
hours
later.
After
Dhande's
death,
the
local
administration
instituted
new
rules
to
ensure
safety
of
the
trekkers.
According
to
the
new
rulers,
each
trekker
had
to
register
with
the
administration
by
paying
an
entry
fee
of
βΉ
20,
and
providing
their
personal
details.
No
entry
was
allowed
in
the
area
during
dark
hours
of
5pm-6am.
During
other
hours,
the
entry
was
allowed
only
when
accompanied
by
a
local
guide,
which
would
cost
βΉ
50.
The
administration
trained
50
local
villagers
as
guides.
The
trekkers
were
also
banned
from
using
plastic
bags
or
plastic
bottles.
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