Ambavli to Bombay Point

5.5 km, flat throughout — the only route that brings you closer to Rasalgad. Ambavli itself sits at the base of Chakdev.

A kaccha road (under construction) climbs to the main ridgeline; a contouring trail then continues to Petwadi, the base village for Rasalgad.

A short, easy detour to the fort and back.

Starts through open scrub into dense forest, then climbs to Sumargad's base via a series of iron ladders. A well-frequented route — you'll pass the remains of an old Dhangarwadi along the way. The trail is clear, especially post-monsoon, with strong views both east and west, including the Parvat and Chakdev plateaus.

The trail circumnavigates Sumargad's east face to a point where a quick out-and-back climbs a big iron ladder to the summit.

The summit holds a couple of water cisterns and is a strong vantage point — more watchtower than fort, but the flat plateau on top comfortably holds a good number of people.

Back on the main ridgeline after descending the iron ladder.

A regularly used local route. Mahipatgad is more watchtower than fort, with the Pareshwar Temple on top.

A single house stands alone on what was once a populated plateau — most families left a couple of generations ago.

A contouring trail along the south face of the mountain to the lesser-known saddle of Phansichi Khind — itself only mapped through community hikes run between 2022 and 2025. Strong views of Mahipatgad from here.

The trail initially enters a gully. Close to the 640 m contour, leave the gully and find the thin trail that switches you onto the main ridgeline — staying in the gully past this point is the wrong line. Reading that contour transition correctly, rather than committing to the gully by default, is one of the 16 skills taught in the HikeX Hiking Field Course.

Once on the ridgeline, it's a straightforward 1.75 km descent (−400 m) through karvi, dry riverbed, dry leaf litter, scree, and hard rock.

The trail turns east in the main valley to reach Vadgaon — the same village visited in Stage 38.

Trail condition is mixed — evident through the valley initially, poor near the saddle. Expect some bushwhacking.

Past the saddle, a contouring trail brings you down to Kudpan Khurd — the sister settlement to Kudpan Budruk, visited on Stage 38.

A well-used trail leads from Kudpan Khurd to Shelar Khind.

3 km · −250 m. A beautiful trail down to Kamthe.

4.5 km total, flat throughout, on a tertiary village road.

A beautiful contouring trail followed by a ridgeline approach.

The daily commute route locals take up to the Mahabaleshwar plateau for work each morning, returning by evening — kept in good condition as a result.

The EST officially ends at Bombay Point, where you get magnificent views of Pratapgarh, and marks the true end of Stage 40 — the final stage of the Epic Sahyadri Trail. From Bombay Point you can hitchhike or walk to the main town of Mahabaleshwar for onward travel — well connected by bus, public transport, and private taxis, with homestays and accommodation across all price ranges.