On the Mumbai Goa Highway, about 10 Kms south of Panvel lies a majestic mountain called Karnala that looks like the Thumbs-up sign! The slopes of this mountain are cloaked with dense forest… popularly known as the Karnala Bird Sanctuary. The aim of this ride is to circumnavigate (Parikrama) this mountain range and pass through some very off beat locations. The ride has been designed in a way that most of the uphill gradients will be encountered in the morning before the sun gets you!
Date: 14th Nov 2009
Start: CBD Belapur Station (Hotel Vishwa Ganga) 6.30 am
End: Panvel Station 3 pm
Distance: 55 Kms
How to reach the Start point: You can take any harbour line train to CBD Belapur. For those who plan to come from Andheri, they can change trains at Wadala. Alternatively, you can cycle directly via Sion – Chembur – Vashi – Palm Beach Rd
Route: CBD Belapur Station – Belapur Bastion – Uran Bridge - Gavhan Phata – Dastan Phata -Ransai Dam (Breakfast) – Chirner – Dighati - Sai – Tara – Karnala – Shirdhon – Panvel Station.
As there is no proper breakfast facility at Ransai Dam, we can either carry our own dabba… or can take packed breakfast from Belapur in the Pick-up tempo.
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Please check out the detailed Google Map below for more information.
View Karnala Parikrama (Bike) in a larger map
START POINT: HOTEL VISHWA GANGA
Phase1: CBD Belapur Station to Belapur Bastion (1 Kms) Once you get down from the train come out on the right hand side of the station if you are facing Panvel. We all meet outside “Vishwa Ganga” Restaurant. A gentle ride flat ride till we reach the Palm beach road where a 4 centuries old Portuguese bastion stands tall at the junction. Though the actual Belapur Fort is on the hill in the backdrop, we will avoid the temptation of visiting it.
Phase 2: Belapur Bastion to Gavhan Phata (6 Kms). We take a left from the Belapur Bastion and cross the Panvel Creek. The road for the next 6 kms is broad, flat and with very less traffic. Gavhan Phata is a T junction with large circular water tanks to the right.
Phase 3: Gavhan Phata to Dastan Phata (5 Kms) At Gavhan Phata we take a right towards Uran. Please note that after taking a right you are supposed to ride straight along the road for 5 Kms till you come to Dastan Phata. Avoid any other indicator that mentions “Chirner” as this road is full of potholes and steep gradients.
Phase 4: Dastan Phata to Ransai Dam (6 Kms) - Parts of this stretch are riddled with potholes… but most of the road is flat till you reach Dighode Village. On the way you will cross two railway crossing. From Dighode it is a gentle uphill ride of 3 kms till you reach the Ransai Dam. We will have our breakfast on the dam walls.
Phase 5: Ransai Dam to Chirner (8 Kms) - We will retrace our route till Dighode and take a left for Chirner. Once you reach a fork at Vinghane village take a left and proceed till you reach an arched gate indicating the way to Mahaganapati Temple. Avoid this gate and keep cycling till you come to the next arched entrance. We will visit two interesting spots in the village Mahaganapati Temple built in the Peshwa Era & Jungle Satyagraha Memorial.
Phase 6: Chirner to Dighati (7 Kms) – This is probably the most difficult… but picturesque part of the ride. From the temple we move to Chirner Phata and then up the Chirner Ghat. Once you reach the top of ghat, it is an easy downhill cruising till you reach a T-end at Dighati
Phase 7: Dighati to Tara (7 Kms) - At the T end we take a left turn towards the Mumbai Goa Highway. As the Waterfalls at Sai village do not have much water left, we will give them a skip. The road has a lot of ups and downs till you reach the Highway. Please note that the entire stretch from here to the end of the journey is on the highway and hence you will have to be careful of reckless drivers. At Tara village, we will stop at Yusuf Meherally Centre (YMC) to refresh ourselves with Kokum Sarbat and snacks. The centre sells handmade soaps, oil, pottery, biscuits etc made by the locals… which are good buys.
Phase 8: Tara to Karnala (3 Kms) - As you leave YMC, you see the Karnala Fort looming large over you. The stretch from Tara to the base of Karnala is an uphill ride. We will catch our breath near the entrance of the Karnala Wildlife Sanctuary.
Phase 9: Karnala to Vithal Kamat Restaurant (2 Kms) - After a few sharp turns on the Highway… most of which is downhill, we will reach Vithal Kamat Restaurant for Lunch.
Phase 10: Vithal Kamat Restaurant to Shirdhon (3 Kms) - Just a few kms north of the restaurant lies the house and Memorial of one of our first freedom fighters… Vasudev Balwant Phadke.
Phase 11: Shirdhon to Panvel Station (7 Kms) - Now we ride along the highway till we come to Panvel Station, the ending point of our ride.
