Reaching Malanggad village from Kalyan station

Malanggad Fort is in Raigad District in Maharashtra. The nearest city to the Malanggad fort is Kalyan city. The fort’s highest point is 2590 ft. above sea level. It is also popularly known as Malang Gad, Haji Malang Gad. It is famous for Haji Malang Dargah which is a famous holy shrine of Haji Abdur Rehman Malang Baba. People visit Malanggad fort for the "Haji Malang Dargah" and the trek which leads towards the top of the mountain. There is a fort nearby named Chanderi fort in Badlapur which has approximately the same height.

"Haji Malang Gad" is at a 17 km distance from the nearest railway station called Kalyan Railway Junction. The holy shrine of Haji Malang Baba called Haji Malang Dargah Kalyan is Situated on the lower level of Malanggad fort. The fort is divided into three levels – Pir machi (first level), Sone machi (second level) and Balekilla (final level).

Haji Malang Dargah

On the first level (Pir Machi) of the Malanggad Fort you will find the Haji Malang Dargah. To reach the Dargah you must take the stairs which consist of more than 1500 steps. To reach the Dargah from the base village it almost takes 3 hours and is recommended to start the journey early in the morning. People from multiple religious communities come to Haji Malang Baba’s Dargah to pay respect and take their blessings. 

In the month of February, the "Urus festival" is celebrated on the Malanggad fort as the death anniversary of the Haji Malang Baba by the people on the fort. Many Devotees from different places visits the Haji Malang Dargah during the Urus festival to seek their blessings.

Trek towards the top

From the second level (Sone Machi) the difficult part of the trek begins. "Sone Machi" is the plateau that measures 250 m long and 25 m wide. The trail towards the Sone Machi has rock patches which can be tiring to few people after climbing 1500 plus steps till Haji Malang Dargah. 

From there, you can continue and reach the top called "Balekilla" which is the last level of the Malanggad Fort. The Route to the Balekilla has been seen broken for a while. The People Staying on the mountain has put a steel pipe at the broken patch. With the help of climbing ropes and the pipe, one can reach the top of the mountain. Reaching to the top is very risky and is recommended not to do it without expert guidance 

How to Reach Haji Malang Dargah from Kalyan

There are two different ways through which you can reach Malanggad from Mumbai. One of them is by Roadways and the other one is by Railways. From Railways, you can board a local train from Mumbai on the Central Line to Kalyan Railway Station which takes around 1 hour 30 mins. And then from Kalyan Railway Station, you can take either ST Bus or Auto-rickshaws which will directly take you to the base village of the Malanggad fort. It will take you 20-30 mins from Kalyan Railway Station to reach the base village. ST Bus Number 45 is the bus which will drop you at the base village for rupees 20 per person. If you are travelling by personal vehicle from Kalyan Railway Station you travel to Naveli Phata which in the way Kalyan-Badlapur road from their onwards it is a single road opposite to Kalyan City which will lead you to the base village of Haji Malang Gad which is known as Malang Wadi. In the base village, you will be able to see a huge space in front of the Bus Station where you can park your vehicle. Also, you can read our blog called "Different Ways to Travel to Haji Malang Dargah" to reach Haji Malang Dargah from Pune.

Malanggad fort is the best place to experience the trek and visit a religious place like dargah and a few Hindu temples near the dargah and in the Malanggad village (base village). From the top of the Haji Malang Gad you can enjoy the spectacular view of the Raigad district which you will never forget.

Best Season to visit Haji Malang Gad

 Malanggad is a fort near Kalyan, in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. It is most likely known as Haji Malang Gad. It is famous for its most famous Sufi shrine located on the hill. It is a three leveled fort with each having its specific names. 

The lowest is the Pir Machi where the Sufi shrine Haji Malang Dargah is situated. The second is the Sone Machi which is a rocky projection. Ahead of the Balekilla or Citadel, it is the top-most fortification, which has some copper pipes and freshwater which is supplied to the lower parts of the fort. This water is supplied with the help of those copper pipes that are present at the Balekilla.

Haji Malang Gad is a combination of a religious and adventurous journey. The fort has many Hindu temples on its way upwards and a Dargah which is named after the Baba Abdur Rehman Malang, also known as Haji Malang Baba. The fort is famous as a trekking point. Many people visit Malanggad to trek and experience the mesmerizing view from the top of the hill.

  

Haji Malang Gad

Urs Festival at Haji Malang Dargah

Urs is a festival that solemnizes the death anniversary of Sufi Saint Haji Malang Baba. It is a huge festival that is celebrated for 8-9 long days. The ceremonies of the festival are performed at the Haji Malang Dargah which is situated at the Pir Machi (lowest level of the fort). The festival is usually celebrated in the month of February when many devotees come to seek blessings. The devotees carry processions which start from the Haji Malang Dargah, then moves further and covers the whole mountain and comes back to the Dargah. Many devotees and followers from all caste and creed come and be a part of this festival. This is the best time to visit the Haji Malang Dargah.

 

Haji Malang Dargah

Trekking at Haji Malang Gad

Trek to Haji Malang Gad is a must! The appealing and attractive view from the top of the fort shouldn’t be missed. Once you start from the base village it takes around 2.5 hours to reach the Haji Malang Dargah that is situated at Pir Machi. Then moving further to the rocky projection we reach the Sone Machi. This is the second part of the fort which is, a 25-meter-wide and 250-meter-long projection, and 70 feet wide and 100 feet tall. On reaching here, it is a wonderful breathtaking view. Further one can visit the Balekilla, which is a narrow gap connected with 14 feet long two pipes. The way is too risky and can’t be crossed without the help of a rope. The view from the Balekilla or Citadel is worth watching but at the same time, it’s too risky to be fatal. 

 

View from Sone Machi

The best season to visit Haji Malang Gad is Monsoon. It is best to visit when the rains pour and nature adopts the beautiful greenery around. The fog around while climbing up the fort altogether makes it a surreal experience.

From the top of Haji Malang gad fort one can enjoy the beautiful view of the Chanderi fort, Matheran range that is visible in the south direction. One can see Mahuli and the Kalyan and Ambernath city in the north direction. To the west is Mumbai city. 

The best experience to visit the Haji Malang Gad for trekking is during the monsoon season.

Haji Malang Baba Palki- A Procession at Urs Festival

In true syncretic tradition, Haji Malang Dargah situated at Shree Malanggad in Kalyan is one of the rare pilgrimages that attracts both Hindus and Muslims. It is a holy 300-year-old shrine of Hazrat Abdur Rahman Haji Malang Baba, a Sufi saint from the Middle East. The religious rituals at the dargah are performed by both Muslim Mutavalli (claiming to be a distant family member of the Saint) and a Hindu Vahivatdar (a traditional priest belonging to the Hindu Karandekar family). The elaborate history of the Haji Malang Baba, as well as the Malanggad fort, attracts thousands of devotees of Baba from various parts of the country.

Haji Malang Dargah decorated during Urs Festival

Urs Festival at Haji Malang Dargah

Every year in February, a festival is organized on the picturesque Malanggad mountain where Haji Malang Baba's holy shrine is located. On the occasion of Baba Haji Malang's annual death ceremony, people celebrate the "Urs Festival". People of various castes and creeds participate in the Urs ceremony with zeal. Since the hill is crowded with thousands of devotees during this period, the police force is present to handle the crowd and avoid any misconduct.

Urs Festival Celebration

Haji Malang Baba’s Palki Procession 

The festivities start with the unfurling of the ceremonial flag and lasts for nine days. On the first day of the annual celebration, the palanquin of Baba Haji Malang known as "Palki" is used in the juloos (procession). This program is popularly called "Sandal Palki ka Gasht". 

Palki of Hazrat Haji Malang Shah Baba

It starts from Haji Malang Dargah at midnight, covers the entire Haji Malang mountain, and reaches back the dargah around 5 am at the dawn. The procession is led by Hindu Vahivatdar Madhav Gopal Ketkar.

Palki Procession at the Haji Malang Urs Festival

Sacred tomb of Haji Malang Baba decorated during Urs

Other Attractions of the Urs Festival

Followed by Haji Malang Baba Palki, other programs like “Milad Sharif”, “Dhamal”, “Mir Sultan Shah Baba Urs”, and “Gusal Sharif” take place on the subsequent days. 

During the procession, the entire mountain is illuminated by beautiful lights. There is a spectacular series of fireworks displayed on the mountain. The Palki of Haji Malang Baba is decorated with flowers. The devotees pay their respect with floral chadars, cloth chadars, sandalwood, and other perfumed offerings.

Dargah premises lit up with light and floral decorations

Nobody sleeps till dawn as they enjoy the spiritual atmosphere and captivating firework display at the mountain. Muslim communities perform Qawwalis, devotional songs whereas Hindu communities perform Aarti in the procession.

Pilgrims gathered near the dargah during Urs Festival midnight

Accommodations are available near Haji Malang Dargah for the pilgrims. If you are planning to travel to Haji Malang Gad, the duration of Urs Festival is the best time to visit the dargah and witness the spiritual splendor.