Nakhind
A more interesting trek to Nakhind would be to traverse the top of Nakhind
from its northern end to its southern end (Peb fort hump junction) passing
right in front of the hole. This is a great trek in the monsoon or in the
winter. One can approach the northern end of Nakhind from Vangani station.
Turning west from Vangani station, one can walk to Vangani village and
from there after walking across some fields, an easy route climbs up to
reach a plateau at a height of 300m. A small village is situated there.
In the monsoon one passes across a few waterfalls on the way. From the
village a track climbs, a bit steeply at times, up the mountain approaching
the northern end of its top ridge. The track reaches the northern tip of
the top ridge. It takes about three hours to climb to this point from Vangani
station. From here one can start walking south for the traverse. After
walking for about fifteen minutes one reaches the hole. It is a grand sight,
standing in the hole, with a view of Konkan both to the east and the west.
Also the wind blows extra strong in the hole. Traversing ahead from the
hole leads in about fifteen minutes to a 4m high rock climb. This rocky
patch cannot be climbed from the ridge end. Instead one has to go around
to its east from where one can climb it. But this side is a bit exposed
and it would be advisable to use ropes, particularly in the monsoon. The
highest part of the climb involves a tricky exposed move around a big rock.
After negotiating the climb, the route continues south on the top ridge.
One or two easy rocky patches have to be climbed initially, but after that
it is a gentle ridge walk. The ridge climbs up to its highest point and
descends to meet the hump near Peb fort. The route passes through forested
stretches and is great fun in the monsoon with strong winds blowing. At
some point the route suddenly turns left (east direction) and descends
rather steeply along the east side of the mountain to lead onto the hump
near Peb fort, from where one can descend to Neral. It takes about one
and a half hours to reach the hump from the rock climb, and about two hours
to reach Neral from the hump.