irshalgad
DESCRIPTION
One of our first overnight trek. It was Dec 31st.TRANSCRIPT
Elevation 365 m (1213 ft)इशार्लगड Elevation 365 m (1213 ft)
Location Chowk ‐ Karjat
इ डIrshalgad – A pinnacle, not fort
IrshalgadIrshaalgad is a fort situated in the Karjat Region. Other forts in this region include Prabalgad and
M l d Whil d i i l h M b i P hi h h f f M l d D iMalanggad. While driving along the Mumbai Pune highway, the forts of Malanggad, DevniPinnacle, Matheran, Peb, Mhasmal, Prabalgad, Irshal attract one’s attention. The population in this area is quite normal. Because of the very heavy rainfall in this region, the most cultivated crop is rice. As the fort is very near to the highway, the approach road to the base village is
availableavailable.
The name Irshaalgad itself is a misnomer; Irshal is not a fort but actually a pinnacle. This is the reason why it hardly figures anywhere in history. Shivaji Maharaj captured the complete region
of Kalyan and Bhiwandi up to Rairi in May 1666 This fort too must have come under theof Kalyan and Bhiwandi, up to Rairi in May 1666. This fort too, must have come under the Maratha rule at that time. Irshal is the next‐door neighbour to Prabalgad. A sad incident
occurred on this pinnacle on January 23, 1972. Kumar Prakash Durve lost his life after falling down from this pinnacle on that day. To remember this day, all the trekkers from the Mumbai –
Thane region assemble here on January 26 every year.
As mentioned above, Irshal is a pinnacle. There is a water tank on the route from the Irshalplateau to the peak. From there, we reach the needle hole near the top through a simple rock‐climbing route. Proceeding little ahead, we see a water tank to the left and a cave to the right. This water is suitable for drinking. The route, which climbs up from near the needle hole goes to the top of the pinnacle. To reach the top of the pinnacle, it is essential to have artificial rock climbing equipment. From the top we can see the forts of Prabalgad, Matheran, Chanderi,
Malanggad, Karnala and Manikgad.
Irshalgad
SchoolThe
Pinnacle
Irshal wadi
Un spoilt
Un hurried
Un touched
Un confined
Un expected
Un conquered
Un paralleledUn paralleled
Un matched
Un stressed
Standing as silent sentinels to history are the 350‐odd forts of Maharashtra. Beaten by
Un stressed
Un limited
g y ythe sea waves, lashed at by the torrential Deccan rains, or scorched in the blazing sun,
stand imposing ramparts and crumbling walls , the last lingering memories of Maharashtra's martial times. Nowhere in the country would you encounter such a
profusion of forts. And such variety. Sited on an island, or guarding the seas or among the Sahyadri hills, whose zig‐zag walls and rounded bastions sit like a scepter and
crown amidst hills turned mauve.