11:45pm: Meet your Vagabond EMs at the CST station ticket counter at 11:45 pm sharp, and board the 12:24 am Karjat Slow from CST (or any other station). For those not joining us at CST, meet the Vagabond EMs at the Kalyan station by 2:00am.
2:00 am: Assemble at Kalyan station, and get into the private jeeps that will take us to the base village
4:30 am: Reach the base village i.e. Karanjale.
5:00 am: We introduce ourselves and get to know each other. Then, we begin the enchanting trek with our torches.
5:30 am: We walk through rocky gulleys, small routes, and bushes. We head towards the fort until we reach a plateau area. From here an ascend will take you to the start of the 1st ridge.
6.00 am: Trek now picks up the challenging path as we climb higher. The path now becomes narrow & zigzag. This zigzag path leads us to the face of the mountain which is steep. The views improve as the sun rises and paints the sky. The second ridge is smaller than the first one and we can spot the tall Sindola fort standing behind.
6:20 am: From the end of the 2nd ridge we take the traverse. Once you enter the traverse, you'll see stunning mountain views to your left. The trek's exciting end is climbing over the fort's narrow pinnacle in a thrilling gulley. Only one person at a time can pass through it. When you get to the top of the demolished entrance to the Fort, you will find a Ganesha Idol carved into the rock. People consider the idol as a gateway for the fort. You can even see the wrecked fort Bastion.
7:30 am: Reach the summit, and explore the historical hill fort, which was once a significant military base. Walk ahead and find a place to relax. From there, soak in the magnificent 360-degree views. We see the Mighty Sahyadri ranges, some famous peaks, the NH-61 road, and the Pimpal Joga Dam. Everything looks so small & surreal that it feels like seeing a miniature world from a bird's eye.
8:30 am: After re-energising ourselves we start our descent back, taking pictures and creating content. While descending we have to be careful as the path can be slippery and steep. Advisable to use your trekking poles if you have one.
11:00 am: Once we reach the base village, our hunger pangs will start craving some good food. After lunch, we start our journey back to Kalyan in our private jeeps.
4.00 pm: It's time to bid adieu! We leave you back at Kalyan station. Goodbyes are a reminder that we will meet again.