Monsoon Hikes with Children around Mumbai: Karnala Fort

Ask a Mumbaikar about monsoons, and there will be a unanimous reply- overwhelming.
Yes! Mumbai rains are surely overwhelming. At one point, you love the drizzle, puddles and greenery, but at the second moment, we have a common expression- when will this get over?

One thing I like about Mumbai rains is hiking to nearby places, especially the Sahyadris. I love being outdoors, and I ensure that my boys get enough outdoor experience too. So with the monsoon setting in, my Sundays are dedicated to some of the other outdoor activities with the boys, be it cycling or hiking.

Many parents have inquired about the hikes I do with my boys and several questions about it.
I am starting a series mentioning the hikes I have done so far with my boys around Mumbai during monsoon, covering most of the pointers related to hiking with kids.

To give a background, I am 42 years old, Mumbai based mother of two 16 & 12-year-old boys. We have been hiking for over four years now. First, to this series is Karnala Fort.

Karnala fort

Karnala Fort is a hill fort in the Raigad district about 65 km away from Mumbai. The Karnala Fort was constructed in the 14th century and carried a remarkable history. The Fort is widely known for its strange pinnacle and the beautiful bird sanctuary set up amidst the lush green forests. This bird sanctuary is our favourite.

Karnala Fort serves as one of the best places for trekking and tourism. I find this trek the easiest one because it is a short one and not too steep, just 3 km of trek distance with an elevation of 1500 feet. The entire trek is also covered by lush green trees making it cooler to climb even on non-rainy humid days.

You can check more details about history, origin etc for the Fort here, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnala_Fort

Distance:

As I stay in Powai, the distance from Powai to Karnala bird sanctuary is 1 hr 16 min (55.0 km) via Bengaluru – Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai – Pandharpur Rd/Mumbai – Pune Hwy/Sion – Panvel Expy. So we prefer driving to this place.

Entry and timings:

The Karnala Fort is located inside the premises of the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, and thus no two separate tickets are required. The price of a ticket for an adult to enter the sanctuary is Rs 30, and a child is Rs 15.

The Karnala Fort is open for tourists on weekdays and weekends from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm.

Sid & Abhi are wearing cricket lowers and Decathalon trekking shoes

Clothing:

Sid and Abhi (my two boys) would be around 12 & 8 when we first took them for the Karnala hike. It is better to make the children wear full sleeves tee and full-length breathable garments. Avoid cotton clothing because first, if it rains, it gets difficult to walk as the fabric absorbs water making it heavy and also sticks to the body. Best is either sportswear or synthetic clothes.
I mostly buy basic monsoon cum hiking shoes for the boys for the season as they have a good grip and dries off quickly. The shoes don’t last till the next season as the boys outgrow them, but it is worth buying if you are regular in monsoon hikes. Check out the hiking shoes here, , https://www.decathlon.in/p/8377574/hiking-shoes/kid-s-hiking-shoes-mh100-jr-pink?id=8377574&type=p
A cotton cap is also a good idea, but my boys don’t like to wear that, and I don’t insist as well.
You can also carry raincoats/wind-cheaters; we mostly avoid them as we find them uncomfortable. Instead, we take a change of clothes and towels.

Things to carry:

Irrespective of the distance and effort in a trek, my boys will always be hungry midway. So I always carry bread-jam sandwiches, biscuits and sometimes Frooti too. A sugar surge helps in pushing the last mile. Mostly I and Som(my husband) have a backpack with foodstuff and water bottles while the boys enjoy their walk.

Bird Sanctuary at the base

Also, carry a small face towel for it gets sweltering and humid while climbing.

Carry packets to dump your soiled clothes and shoes after the hike.

It is also advisable to spray some insect repellent or mosquito repellent in damp and humid weather.

Timing for the hike:

Karanala is a small hike to start any time, but I prefer the early morning because it is less crowded. We also like to explore the bird sanctuary at the hiking base, so when we descend, we have ample time to go around admiring the birds.

Bag-pack with jam sandwiches

Bags with water and repellents

The hike:

Karnala fort can be both easier and trickier at the same time. For experienced hikers, it’s just a quick walk, while for beginners, it’s a tedious hike. The way to the top is narrow, and if you are late in climbing, then you’ll face huge crowds mid-way. The way up is straight but twisted. At some places, you’ll find big rocks to cross over and also outgrown tree roots—my boys like swinging and climbing on those twigs and trunks. To reach the tabletop, you’ll have the cross a big rocky wall which is also the endpoint of the trek. From here, you’ll see a vast, open and flat space, which makes a perfect spot to have your snacks. The view from the top is breathtaking, and especially on your monsoon hikes. The top of the fort is visible from here, and one can even climb up. I have never climbed up with the boys due to the crowd. Boys always love to sit and enjoy their jam sandwiches and sip water here. We love to look around from the tabletop.

Once cooled down, the descending is manageable, and once you reach the bottom, you can explore the birds. But, honestly, I didn’t like seeing the beautiful birds caged.

You can easily complete this trek in three hours or so. If your children are new climbers then keep encouraging them for they might get tired and would ask you to terminate the hike. If you do that once then it’ll be a herculean task to get them to another hike. Build interest, carry adequate food and water above all keep your spirits high and very soon you’ll be happily sitting , giggling and talking that how wonderful the hike was.

Happy climbing!!!