Malang-gad (मलंगगड)

Way towards Malang Machi (मलंग माची)

 

15 feet patch with iron bar

The trek is not at all easy. You could compare it to Rajgad or Harishchandragad. Malaggad serves an excellent trek for trekkers with its unique pinnacles made up in volcano. It has four parts of forts.

Peer Machi (पीर माची) - On half of the height lies Peer Machi, where there is Durgah (दर्गा) of Peer Malang-baba, Doorga Devi temple and small stalls for Pooja. The way till here has proper steps built by devotees of Malang-baba.

Malang Machi (मलंग माची) - From Malang Durgah, take a right turn just before Durgah to start climbing Malang Machi. The steps are large in height, 2 feet in length but about 6 inches short in width. Climb them carefully and you reach the most important part of the fort during wartime. Here in a dark tunnel, you can see excellent Chor-darwaja for Panvel. This route is blocked now.

From here start climbing the Balekilla (citadel). The steps are carved in rocks and be very careful while you climb. There is a 15 feet patch where streps are broken and a iron bar has been placed. Local people help in crossing the patch with the help of that bar and ropes. They take about Rs. 15 per person. The patch is really a thrill while you watch deep valley below your feet.

Bale Killa (बालेकिल्ला) - made up of 3 mountains which look almost vertical, created by huge volcano and seems like they cannot have any route. Balekilla contains seven ponds built in rocks and remnants of a Wada. You really get fascinated to see that this is the only huge mountain in the whole surrounding area.

Devni Mountain (देवणीचा सुळका) - we don't know how to go there. A steep rock mountain in front of Balekilla where devotees of Doorga devi throw stones. If it reached, your wish comes true.

1. Reach Kalyan ST stand in front of Kalyan station.

2. Get KDMT bus for Malanggad, which starts from ST stand. Or you can get 6-seaters which take Rs. 10 to the base of the fort. (Kalyan – Malanggad takes ½ an hour)

3. Start climbing Peer Machi after you reach the base.
    

Way towards Balekilla after the 15 feet patch

Peer Machi (पीर माची) and Haji Malag Duragh
as seen from Malang Machi (मलंग माची)

Malang Machi (मलंग माची), Balekilla (बालेकिल्ला)
and Devnicha Sulka (देवणीचा सुळका)
(Snap is taken from Peer Machi (पीर माची))

1. Importance of the fort – This fort was important fort in Konkan, Kalyan and Mumbai region as this was the last fort lying on boundary of Maratha Kingdom. After Thane started British rule. So all of the Peshwe (पेशवे) rulers and Nana Phadanwis guarded this fort, so useful for keeping watch on Kalyan and Thane region. The fort was effectively useful for shortcut from Kalyan to Panvel, while Kalyan was one of the important trading markets in the region for centuries. Marathas fought the fort very rigorously till 1818. After end of Maratha Kingdom, British rulers destroyed the fort to avoid possible rising of Marathas again.

2. Haji Malag Duragh on Peer Machi – This is a pilgrimage irrespective of religion. Many Hindu devotees also come here every Ramzan month. The maintenance and rights of the Durgah are with Ketkars for centuries. Ketkars were one of the Killedar (the main guarding officer of the fort) on Malanggad.

3. Balekilla – You will get really astonished to see how much area Malanggad was controlling. From the top you can see Kalyan, Dombivli, Ambarnath, Ulhasnagar, Mumbra, Taloje, Panvel, Karnala fort, Prabalgad, Tahuli Mountains, matheran, Malshej and Bhimashankar Mountains. This is why the fort was so important place in history.

4. Devnicha Sulka – Steep vertical volcano generated mountain in front of Balekilla. A steep rock mountain in front of Balekilla where devotees of Doorga devi throw stones. If it reached, your wish comes true.

5. Secret route to Panvel - The secret route (भुयार) and Chor-darwaja on Malang Machi for Panvel is really amazing. You can actually get into the tunnel and see the secret door. The route from here has got blocked now.

6. The fort everywhere has steep vertical edges, so steep that the fort did not need much man-made fortification.

7. Caves with drinkable water on Malang Machi are situated at the base of Balekilla.

8. Seven Ponds on Balekilla are really amazing. They still supply water to the Haji Malang Durgah and the shops around it.

9. Caution - There are lots of huge monkeys on Peer and Malang Machi. They try to grab your bags if you leave them aside.

Devnicha Sulka (देवणीचा सुळका)

Same as you reached there.

From Kalyan ST stand to Malanggad

Every 30 minutes bus

Time to climb	1 hour for Peer Machi from base and 1.5 hours from Peer Machi to Balekilla.
Food	The stalls on Peer Machi around Durgah or Kalyan station
Drinkable Water	The stalls on Peer Machi around Durgah, caves on Malang Machi and ponds on Balekilla. Note that water from Balekilla only is used on Peer Machi and Duragah.
Shelter	Night stay can be made in some small house like shops around the Durgah. But we won’t recommend it. There is no place to stay at night on the fort. Better do the night stay at some hotel in Kalyan city only.