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Trekking Tips
Trek to Duke's Nose
Khandala Station to Tata Power Station
Begin the trek from Pune by the Sinhagad Express at 6:00 am and get off at Khandala station. The time you start the trek is approximately 7:45. Walk in the direction towards Bombay along the railway tracks and you will soon see two unused railway tracks going upwards – follow either of them, but we followed the one in the middle, not the one on the extreme right.
It’s an uphill walk for about 15 minutes when you get off the track and onto the road running alongside it (I think that the track ends around that point). Continue uphill along the road and you soon come across the gates of the Tata Power Station. Continue walking through the gates and a fairly steep uphill climb on this road brings you to what I presume is the power station. First there is a tin shed on which an arrow is painted with the legend “Nagphani” written below it in Marathi. An a short distance ahead is some sort of reservoir presumably used for power generation.
There is only one way to go, along a wire fence around the reservoir. Here the road ends and the hill begins. It’s a short walk to an iron gate meant to prevent animals past it – the kind that is like a very narrow U-turn. Go past the gate and you are out of the power station. The road is now upwards, and steep.
Up the First Mountain
Beyond the power station gate, the path rises steeply upwards for a bit and suddenly comes upon a flattened road moving perpendicularly to it. I think that you can take three options at this point and come to the same point. I think that the last time we went to Duke’s nose we turned left, this time we turned right and on the way back came directly from across the road. In any case, the idea is to get to the top of the hill that you are on.
However, this time we used the road from the right which is the one I’ll describe. Walk a short distance along this road, and leave it to climb the steep hill to the left and arrive at a tower for supporting power lines. From here you will see the expressway in the distance, as well as massive water supply lines. Continue further along the path and it broadens out and flattens out. Here is a large rock with a white-painted arrow telling you that you are on the right track. Walking further along the path brings you through a narrow, bush lined passage that opens out into a wide plateau.
Near the opening through which you have come, you will find a couple of stones painted with arrows pointing to the left. These do not point the way to the Duke’s nose, in fact the point in the opposite direction. Take a RIGHT turn here and follow the path which is initially level and then winds down.
Around The Second Mountain
The path is level at first and the scenery is breathtaking. We took a breather here and had some breakfast, just light stuff. Follow the path and the idea is to get down the hill. On both sides of the hill you are on, there are tall and massive mountains. The one on the left is irrelevant for the Duke’s nose trek, but the one on the right is important because it is the one you have to get around to get to the Duke’s nose.
There is no great need for directions at this point because you can see that you have to get down the hill you are on and around the hill on your right. So you should be going downhill and not to your right. We took a path through which water flows in the rains, and it is a kind of shallow depression running down the hill. There are probably many such paths but this one was convenient.
Once you are down in the valley, in clear weather, you can see the Duke’s nose to the right and ahead – its unmistakable. But in the monsoon it is invariably shrouded in clouds and you cannot make out its shape. In either case, there is a way up the hill leading to the Duke’s nose that is somewhat difficult to find.
Use the following guideline – on way across the valley to the Duke’s nose you will come across a natural pond and an artificial one. From either of the ponds you can see one solitary palm tree (according to Vishal, this is a supari tree). If you carry one in a straight line from the pond to the tree and beyond it, you should arrive at the right spot to climb the hill leading to the Duke’s nose.
Up to the Duke’s Nose
The way up the hill takes some finding, because the path is not always clear but we have gone there twice and found some way up the hill. Climbing up the hill, you come to a point where the forest begins. There is a tall concrete fence in the distance beyond on the hill itself – again this has nothing to do with the Duke’s nose, just a landmark.
Get into the forest and there is a clearly marked path that you can follow. In a while you come to a point where you can either go left or right from the path. There is also a large stone with some white-painted mark on it. (Remember this stone on your way back, it easy to miss the turn). If you want to take the easier (but by no means easy) route to the top, turn left at this point. If you are inclined to take the dangerous route to the top, turn right.
We took the easier route and it’s the one I’ll describe. Its a level walk along a well trodden path in the forest till the point that the forest ends. And You will see a set of rough steps carved into the hillside. This is the beginning of the climb to the Duke’s nose.
This is a steep climb through narrow passages and at times, there is exposure to the valley below. But if you are careful, there is little danger. Just continue up the path and you will arrive at the U-shaped junction between the two noses. Right takes you up to the Duke’s nose and the left takes you to the adjoining Duchess’ nose.
Enjoy.
