Trekking to GawaliDev Hill among Parsik Hills or Ghansoli Hills in Navi Mumbai in Monsoon

Trekking to Gawli Dev Mandir Hill : It makes a very short trek. This place is a small mountain or hillock near Rabale and Mahape in the mountain range in Navi Mumbai which separates Thane-Kalyan and Navi Mumbai area. 

Famous for Gawli Dev Mandir, a green board 'Gawali Dev Kshetra' signs where to start from. It is near Gawli Dev bus stop for NMMT and TMT buses in Rabale MIDC Industrial area behind Reliance Corporate Office.

-------------------------------
Our Trek details:
Date : 05-Aug-2018
Trekkers : Harish Patel (I), Veeresh Soni, Praveen Mishra
Difficulty Level : Very Easy
Time for climbing up: 45mins
Expenses : Rs45/-  = Bus tickets Airoli to MBP & return (Rs30/-) + Snacks under MBP bridge after trekking (Rs10/-)

Best season to visit: rainy season and winters
Google Location to refer: Gawalidev Bird Watching
How to reach: 1.3 km walking from MBP bridge on Shil-Mahape Road.
3.3 km walking from Rabale station.
One can reach easily by public transport to Rabale station or MBP bus stop. Can take auto to this place or walk.
Taking bike or car is also a good idea.
-------------------------------

A day ago it was planned by them and I agreed to the notice, that my friends Veeresh Soni and Praveen Mishra shared to visit this place. As they did not go any trek for a long, it seemed perfect short trek for them to start with.

We discussed on call that we would start from home around 7.30 in morning the next day. WhatsApp group by created to be in sync. But on actual day we started around 9am from our homes.

Veeresh and Praveen started from Lodha Palava and reached there. I started from Airoli, took a Best bus and reached MBP bridge. There Praveen took me to Gawali Dev bus stop. There is parking area where we parked our vehicle.

Without any delay we kick started the trek. I clicket a photo here to record the beginning, Veeresh and Praveen climbed up a little.

At the base there are toilets that is a good thing. There is one notice board by Rabale MIDC police mentioning some safety instructions and location specific rules in Marathi language. Another board is by Thane Forest department giving details about "Rusty Spotted Cat", its name in Scientific and Hindi name and details about it. 

You can find many such boards along the route which detail about animals and birds found in Thane Forests. Not many of these animals or birds are on this hill actually.

The path going upwards is very clear, it seems like some stones at various places are arranged in form of stairs. At other places path is purely natural mostly created by flowing water streams in rains. 

Only at base only a few visitors were seen, else no one was spotted during our ascend journey upto top.

You can find crabs of good size, butterflies and other jungle insects through the path easily.
Along the path cut trees and branches were lying horizontally at many places. They were homes to various insects and fungus and Mushroom (Kukurmutta) now.

The area is fully covered with greenery. At some places wooden shelters are installed. These are used as resting or picnic spots for little group in summers or winters. Plastic glasses, bottles, alcohol bottles, eatery plastic packets and other waste here show that people have littered the area very much. Same condition is visible at other shelters, near water fall and here & there.

As we go up, more regions of Navi Mumbai become visible like Airoli, Rabale, Ghansoli, Koparkhairne, Reliance Corporate Park(RCP) having Jio office. Airoli Thane creek, Mulund Airoli bridge, buildings in Vikhroli & Powai too cab be seen from here.
The beautiful complete view of RCP can be seen here from this hill at the best.

After covering some distance, small waterfall was visible. Instead of going there, we chose to ascend further to top through the way near it.
Above waterfall, lies the Gawli Dev Mandir. Water stream flow from here to the waterfall. As there was small stream we sit on dry rocks to take rest. Water was cool and we insert our feet in it.

After walking some distance on flat surface we found one well there. The well was having dirty water inside. Here also littering was done by visitors.

After trekking further for some time, the path is shortened. Not many people tried to go ahead of that point, it was visible seeing the small path trail going upward. The trail was looking less used recently. We were resting there and talking about going back as nothing special was expected after going on the top. We wanted place to sit and spend time at top of hill.
I tried to go ahead upto top and called my friends by shouting their names. They came to the top quickly. 

There was something water blocking structure like small dam built generally in fields. It was like small table top. We spent sometime here by gossiping and talking to our families on phone. We clicked some photos here and started downward journey.

.
.

We came back till the well and analyzing its surroundings. From far, it reminded us the famous "The Ring" Hollywood movie fame well. Not sure why the well is there or how it is used now. Its water is not potable. Some indisciplined visitors threw garbage things into it also.

...

.

We rested at waterfall top where Mandir is situated, for sometime and enjoyed the view of Navi Mumbai areas. This is the best place here to sit with relax. There seemed no insects on the rocks, water streams were flowing near us. 

At other side of stream, there is pleateu like thing at height of 8-10 feet. I reached there and find it is flat stone surface, I tried to click photo of butterflies here.

.
.

During return, after passing waterfall we were able to see quite a number of visitors, mostly of whom came for enjoying into waterfall. Some visitors were new and were asking us about route for Mandir and waterfall.

.
.

In short time, we came to base point where we started. The road here is Digha-Mahape road in Rabale TTC/MIDC Industrial area. We started our scooty bike doing tripling upto MBP bridge. They dropped me here and headed towards Dombivali. I caught a BEST bus for Airoli.
.
.

This trek is very short one and would be easy for trekking starters also. In non rainy seasons, people can spend more time here compared to that in rains.
.
.

If I visit this place again, I would take some garbage bags with me to pack plastic and other non degradable waste that people left here over a period of time.

----

Gallery of other random clicks is provided here: