IRSHALGAD - Most windiest pinnacle
1-day Sunday TTMM trek to Irshalgad near Panvel on 22nd July 2018, was completed successfully by 16 of us.
CAUTION: This is a medium grade trek. You must use correct trekking gear and trekking shoes. The terrain is quite slippery in the mountains. The base of the pinnacle can be reached. Do not attempt to climb the pinnacle. The pinnacle requires technical expertise of professional climbers, equipment & ropes.
This is not a fort, even if it is called a 'gad' in Marathi. It is basically a mountain with a pinnacle. There are no fortifications or water cisterns on this mountain.
The blog post is divided as follows:
1) How to go? (with GPS route on dynamic map).
Base railway station: Panvel.
Base village: Nanivali village, via Irshalwadi.
Check the dynamic Google map link with GPS track. The ascent is around 3.77 km & the descent being the same, the total distance that we actually trekked as around 8 km.
We 16 friends had hired 2 cabs (Maruti Omni van) from Panvel railway station to Nanivali village & back.
We did not climb the pinnacle. We trekked till the top of Irshalgad.
GPS trail ← & blog post from Irshalgad top to nedhe ← is here.
09:45 cab dropped us at Nanivali village (car park on map).
10:10 Actual trek started from trailhead.
11:55 reached Irshalwadi in the mountains.
12:00 reached a small temple enroute.
12:40 reached the top of Irshalgad.
13:45 return & descent trek started.
17:05 reached Panvel by cab from Nanivali.
3) EXPERIENCE IN PHOTOS & VIDEO:
Check the video of our Irshalgad trek here:
IRSHALWADI: The needle’s eye or the ‘Nedhe’ in Marathi is the hole in the solid rock wall of the mountain, caused by the incessant blowing winds!
The small temple of the deity of the mountains is crossed and blessings received for uneventful passage.
Outline of Irshalgad shrouded in clouds is seen from Irshalwadi ahead.
A narrow path connects the way towards the pinnacle from the base of the pinnacle. I mentally hugged it before crossing it.
The pinnacle of Irshalgad is shrouded in mystery & clouds. It can only be climbed by professional climbers with expertise, climbing gear & ropes.
Bliss in Paradise - it isn’t a place. Its a feeling!
We fell in love with this island and wished to visit it some day soon...
60/- rickshaw from home to station & back.
40/- return train ticket.
185/- Panvel to Nanivali & back by shared cab among 16 of us (600/- per cab accomodating 7 to 8 passengers from Panvel to Nanivali & same fare while returning).
We completed this trek safely and successfully in our usual TTMM way.
