Kalavantin Durg is the world’s most dangerous fort. Located between Matheran and Panvel in Maharashtra, at an altitude of 2,300 feet, it is a small cave built into the summit of the natural spire of rock. Built around 530 BC, The journey to the summit starts from the base point in the village of Thakurwadi. The trek to Kalavantin Durg and the Prabalgad Fort, though, takes only about a little over three hours, it requires a tremendous level of concentration and overcoming steep hurdles. The fort is only accessible by zigzag stairs carved into the edges of the rock with no guard rails or ropes, known as the “Climb to Heaven”. Tradition holds that it was constructed in honour of a Queen Kalavantin. Every Holi Festival, the Adivasi people of Machi-Prabal village observe the custom of dancing at the top of the fort.
The trail gets notably steeper as you make the move upwards to the top, and there is a sense of vertigo-inducing on the way up – though this doesn’t deter those in pursuit of heart-pounding adventure.
Higher and higher – complete with undulating terrain, rocky patches and waterfalls gushing down the steps – the trail gets even more treacherous until climbers finally reach the pinnacle of the Kalavantin Durg, witness the bird’s eye view and forget all about the arduous ascent.
Credit : India Times
Picture Credit : Google
