Trekking Ghansoli Gawli Dev (Parsik) Hill

It’s been there for geological ages, we have been looking at it for last about 4years and I have been planning to trek it since a long time. Finally, few weeks back, we trekked the Ghansoli Hill.

Ghansoli Hill is located at the eastern boundary of Ghansoli town, behind our office complex at RCP. The hill or better hillock is a part of small range that separates Kalyan and Navi Mumbai towns. A search on Google Map returns with a name Parsik Hill for it, though there is one more rather famous Parsik Hill in Navi Mumbai. We also found a NewsArticle, that talks about NMMC plans to develop Nature Awareness Centre at this hills and calls it Gawli Dev Hill. Here, we would be calling it Ghansoli Hill. I asked my colleague about it and he readily agreed. The very next Sunday we did it with another friend. We weren't aware of the route. All we knew is that a Central Road runs along the western edge of the hill and can be reached through the Vashi-Mhape road. We later found that there’s a Bus stand and a Gawli Dev Temple-board at the Central Road only, from where one can start trekking (Map route).

Gavli Dev Temple-board

Best time to trek the hill is during Monsoon, as it rejuvenates many a waterfalls. There is one small Gawli-Dev Temple and a cemented picnic spot near it. Biggest waterfall is located just before the Temple. Route is very easy and pretty defined up to the temple. Families generally stay at temple and the picnic spot. We found them fishing and catching fresh-water crabs!

Jungle route

Best part starts post-Temple. After it, it’s mostly a sparse jungle and there’s no defined route. We had to make our way through waist-high grass lands, bushes and creepy trees. After wandering here and there we reached opposite side of hill, facing Mhape. Minutes spent there, we started searching for the facet we were aware of. Jumping, crawling led us to our destination, the spot from where we could see entire Ghansoli, the Navi Mumbai and the Greater Mumbai too. We took photos, rested and started descending. En route we stopped at Waterfall. The worst thing with all the easily-reachable falls of Mumbai/NaviMumbai, is that young people generally hangout there with beer, etc and are not only the reason behind nuisance but also non-biodegradable garbage. We found many a group, inebriated and doing all kind of nonsense stuff, like shouting, climbing over the fall and trekking the slippery stream. On our next trip only we met police-constables guarding the start point. Reason was that a family was being looted by a bunch of hooligans. So, all boys group were banned from trekking and you ought to have a female member to prove that you’re a family (or sort of) to be allowed to go further. Don’t know what the present status is, but do go prepared.

Bird's eye view of Ghansoli

Ghansoli Waterfall

Office Complex, Ghansoli town and the distant Thane-Vashi Creek

A view of Navi Mumbai

Takeaways: 

1. It’s a very short and easy trek; you can plan it on any weekend with family/friends.
2. Best time to visit is in monsoon. Go prepared; there is one good waterfall and many a small falls and streams to enjoy.
3. Last viewed, only families (or groups with girl/s) were allowed. In any case, don’t carry much cash etc, you won’t need much plus there is no eatery around the corner.
4. Do carry something to eat and garbage-bin bags to collect the waste. Please don't spoil the Nature...
5. If you want gpx/kml file of our trek, please request in the comment section.

For more photos, click here