Irshalgad - 5th Aug 2012

General information : 

Irshal gad is a fortress located between Matheran and Panvel in Maharashtra, India. It is a sister fort to Prabalgad. The area of the fort is not large but there are several water cisterns cut from the rock. The nearest village is Irshalwadi.

HISTORY :

Chowk village is birth place of Netaji Palkar who was a close associate of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Irshal gad is very near to Chowk.

The fort information : 

Height : 370 meters.

VIEW FROM THE TOP :

Prabalgad towards north, Manikgad, Karnala, Songiri westwards and Matheran hill range in the east. Patalganga river and small dam between Irshalgad and Matheran

Morba dam

Morba dam back water, a nice small island.

Straight peak of Irshal gad 

Information about max visited places :

-             The area of the fort is very small. There is no fortification, but there are six rock-cut cisterns (water reservoirs) and image of Vishaldevi. There is a natural hole called Nedha on the top.

Nisargacha mukt haste swagat.

How to go:

Chowk is a railway station on Karjat - Panvel railway track and a highway stop on Mumbai-Pune old highway. The trek starts from Chowk. A crown- shaped fort is prominently seen from Chowk. After climbing half an hour you will reach to a big “MORBI” dam, take left from there to Irshal gad. Next one and half hours, you will reach to Irsalwadi, the village on the maachi (plateau) of the fort.  

Type of climb - Easy.

Irshalgad is 100 meters high from Irsalwadi (half hour). Type of climb here is moderately difficult.

Best season to visit : 

-     Winter    :  Awesome

-     Rainy      :  Nice (to see a view of Morbi dam)

-     Summer  :  Good.