Karnala (Panvel) ~ कर्नाला (पनवेल) ~ کارنالا) پانول)

Destination : Karnala (Panvel)

Location : Karnala (Panvel)
Coordinates: 18°52'57"N   73°7'8"E
Distance from Mumbai: 47.8 kms*
Duration : 12 Hrs*
Estimated cost : Rs.300*
Time to visit : Winter
Activities : Trekking, Fort, Gardens, Hill Top, Bird Watching, Wildlife Sanctuary
Place of visit : Karnala Fort
Elevation : 1500 ft*

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Mid-way view from Karnala Hill

This was the time when the winter season was descending. We planned for an escape to nature, a break from our usual routine. The Karnala Bird Sanctuary is one of the popular tourist locations in Panvel near Mumbai. It is surprising how such an amazing trekking location exists so close to Mumbai. The bird sanctuary is a popular destination for avid bird-watchers and hikers in the Mumbai area and home to over 150 species of resident birds and 37 species of migratory birds who visit the sanctuary during winter.

The sanctuary is centered around the historic Karnala fort. Present day, it is a favorite weekend spot for trekking enthusiasts.


Karnala fort actually consists of two forts one at a higher level and other lower. At the centre of the higher level is a 125 feet high basalt pillar. It is also called Pandu's tower. This structure was used as

Tum-tum

watchtower when the fort was occupied however now it is in a ruined condition. Be aware of the presence of bee hives .There is a water cistern which used to provide fresh water all year long, From the top, the forts of Prabalgad and Rajmachi are clearly visible.

We gathered at Panvel station and then walked till the main road to catch a tum-tum (6 seater auto rickshaw) which will charge you 30-50 rupees per person. Please do not pay more than 30-50 rupees as the rickshaw wala's might cheat you.

Entrance of Karnala

We reached the entrance of the Karnala bird sanctuary within 25-35 minutes. There is a huge parking space for people who travel by private vehicles .The entry fee to the sanctuary was around 30 bucks. There is a big map at the entrance showing the whole sanctuary and the fort surrounding it.

Do not carry plastic bottles for water, use re-usable bottles like the tupperware ones. If you do carry a plastic bottle you would have to make a deposit of 200 bucks and register near the entrance. The deposit would be returned only if you manage to get the plastic bottle on your way back. Please do not litter and help in preserving nature. Clicking pictures is not prohibited but if you wish to take a camera inside the sanctuary , you need to pay Rs. 150.

Caged Rabbits

There were not many species of birds as we had expected. The caged birds were the only ones that caught our attention. There were also rabbits and beautiful peacocks in the cages. There is also a temple of Goddess Karnai near the base the fort. We spent some time there capturing images and then continued our trail.

Way to hill top

Once the straight path ended ,we found ourselves in the dense part of the sanctuary. There we no steps along the way, so we had to actually climb rocks and stony paths to the summit which made us feel like professional hikers. We could hear the sounds of different birds clearer now. There were five shacks for shade along the way to the top, mostly for denoting how much distance we covered. We hauled at every shack to pause for a while. All along, the path had trees on both sides, and we couldn't see the fort until we neared it. It wasn't monsoon time, so there were no water freefalls neither it was slippery which otherwise is the case during the rains. 

View of Karnala Fort

There were two forts, one at a higher level and one at a lower level. The central structure of the fort was like a tall pillar like structure. Climbing on this was not allowed because it is risky. There were two waters holes around the structure , which has adulterated water now. There was an open space at the far end of the fort, where we spent some time clicking pictures and watching the breathtaking view from up there.

Karnala Fort

After exploring more places around the fort, we had our lunch at the last shack & started descending the mountain. The way back down was quite smooth as compared to the ascent. We reached the entrance in much lesser time. We reached the base and felt a sense of pride to have covered the 1500 feet successfully. At the base, there was a woman offering to make lemon juice for the trekkers, which was like a boon for us as we were very thirsty and tired.

We loved how the unadulterated physical magnificence around us stimulated in us thoughts that we would otherwise never have. After all, we knew that while the blisters on our aching feet will heal and fade away, we will always be able to carry these thoughts with us. Overall, it was an amazing and memorable experience; a must visit place.

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Plan your own trip Now !

How to reach : 

1. Panvel (47.8 kms)
• By road : via NH3 or Sion-Panvel Expy
• By train : via mumbai-harbour local train
2. Karnala from Panvel Station (15.0 kms) 
• By auto : 25 mins (Rs/-30 per person)
• By bus :  40 mins (Rs/-15 per person

The Itinerary :

1. 09 : 00 - Assemble at Panvel station
2. 08 : 15 - Take Rickshaw for Karnala
3. 08 : 45 - Reach the base & Start climbing the hill
4. 11 : 30 - Reach hill top & explore the fort
5. 12 : 45 - Lunch at Hill Top
6. 01 : 30 - Start descending the hill
7. 03 : 30 - Reach back to the base & Refreshments.
8. 04 : 00 - Take Rickshaw for Panvel Station
9. 04 : 30 - Depart home from Panvel station

Costs :

1. Entry - Rs/-30 
2. Camera charges - Rs/-150 (non refundable)
3. plastic materials - Rs/-200 (refundable)
4. FINE - Rs/-500 for littering or throwing garbage
5. Parking Available - Rs/-50 (capacity : 20 cars ONLY)  

Food :

1. Karnala - Small shops selling eateries like Nimbu paani, etc are available only on the base of the hill.
2. Lunch - Most of the restaurants are available around the station only. So it is advisable to carry your own lunch from home.

Bag Packing :

1. Cap & Aviators
2. Small rope
3. Lighter / matchbox
4. Pen Knife
5. 2 litres of drinking water
6. Food : Dry lunch, sandwich, cake, biscuit or fruits.
7. First Aid : Band aid, Cotton, Savlon, Soframycin, crocin odomos, Eno or Electral powder

Dressing :

1. T-shirt & tracks
2. Winter Jacket
3. Good pair of shoes

Do's :

1. Get Binocular for bird watch
2. Packed lunch from home as no restos available near by
3. Tupperware bottles for water

Don"t :

1. Do not get plastic things like bisleri bottles or polythene bags.
2. Feed the animals
3. Throw garbage in the jungle

Beware :

1. Monkeys snatching food
2. Spider web
3. Honeycombs on the hill top

Cell Phone :

1. Battery charged
2. Power backups
3. Image files of local area map
4. 2g/3g enabled
5. Working flashlight
6. Updated google maps & saved offline maps
7. Phone number of the group members

Do not Take :

• Canned food/drinks.
• Say no to meat/chicken while trekking.
• Bagged such as chips & other junk
• Avoid all fat & starch items as much as you can as they contain complex carbohydrates and take longer to digest.

Coordinates :

1. Panvel : 18°59'27"N   73°7'14"E
2. Karnala : 18°52'57"N   73°7'8"E

The Team

Viren Nawani
Trek Planning & Organising

Nidhi Shetty
Blog writer & Editor

 Parth Parikh
Photography

Rashneet Sachdeva
Trek Financer