Salota Fort Trek: Salher's Tougher, Emptier Twin

Introduction

Almost everyone who walks up to the col between these two hills turns right. Right is Salher, the highest fort in Maharashtra, a UNESCO World Heritage property since 2025, and the reason the trail exists at all.

Left is Salota. The Salota fort trek takes the neglected branch — a narrow slope traverse, a rock-cut gateway carved into a cliff, and a staircase set at roughly seventy degrees that concentrates the mind considerably. Durgbharari grades Salota hard while grading Salher easier. Wikipedia's entry goes further and says the climb requires climbing equipment, which overstates it for the current route but tells you how the fort's reputation runs.

Salota is emptier, steeper and, in one respect, better than its famous neighbour: from Salota's western knoll you get the finest possible view of Salher's carved steps and pyramid profile. You cannot see that from Salher itself.

This guide covers the Waghambe route, the height confusion, the col, the exposed step section, and how to do both forts properly in one long day.

Table of Contents

1. Quick Overview
2. Where Salota Is
3. How High Is Salota? The Sources Disagree
4. Salher and Salota: The Relationship
5. The Route from Waghambe
6. The Exposed Section: Gates and Rock-Cut Steps
7. What Is on Top
8. Difficulty: An Honest Read
9. Water on the Trek
10. How to Reach Waghambe
11. The Salher–Salota Combined Itinerary
12. Accommodation and Camping
13. Food
14. Nearby Attractions
15. Budget Breakdown
16. Practical Tips
17. Safety Tips
18. Common Mistakes
19. Best Time to Visit
20. FAQ
21. Conclusion

Quick Overview

Detail	Information
Location	Baglan (Satana) taluka, Nashik district, Maharashtra
Range	Selbari–Dolbari, on the Maharashtra–Gujarat border
Base village	Waghambe
Height	Disputed. Wikipedia lists 1,295 m (approx. 4,250 ft); Durgbharari's page header says 4,740 ft while its text puts the summit at 4,550 ft
Time to the col	About 1.5 hours from Waghambe
Time to the summit	About 2.5 hours beyond the col per Durgbharari
Difficulty	Hard. Exposed rock-cut steps, narrow traverse, collapsed sections
Summit area	Roughly 10 acres, triangular
Water	None on the ascent. One small cistern near the col holds water until around January
Entry fee / permit	None reported
Guide	Recommended. Wikipedia advises hiring one from the village

Where Salota Is

Salota stands in the Baglan region of Nashik district, in the Selbari–Dolbari ranges, close to the Maharashtra–Gujarat boundary. Durgbharari places the pair on the border of Baglan and the Dang region of Gujarat, separated from Salher only by a narrow pass — a khind.

The nearest village, and the standard base, is Waghambe, on Salota's northern foothill. Durgbharari gives Waghambe as 134 km from Nashik and 45 km from Satana via Taharabad.

Three villages give access to the pass: Salherwadi, Maldaur and Waghambe. Durgbharari is clear that Waghambe is the most convenient if you intend to do both forts, and that is the plan most trekkers should follow.

This is remote country. Not dangerous-remote, but a long way from a hospital, a long way from a fuel pump, and a very long way from a mobile tower on the upper sections.

How High Is Salota? The Sources Disagree

Three numbers are in circulation and they do not reconcile. Here they are, with who says what.

• Wikipedia: 1,295 m, approximately 4,250 ft.
• Durgbharari, page header: 4,740 ft.
• Durgbharari, body text: the triangular summit is spread across roughly ten acres at 4,550 ft.

Durgbharari's own page contradicts itself, which tells you the figure is not well surveyed. What everyone agrees on is the ranking: Salher is higher, Salota is second in the pair. Durgbharari describes Salher as the tallest fort in Maharashtra and Salota as ranking second in height among these forts.

Salher's own height is much better established: Wikipedia gives 1,567 m / 5,141 ft, the highest fort in the Sahyadri and the second-highest peak in Maharashtra after Kalsubai.

So the safe formulation for Salota is approximately 4,250 to 4,750 feet, roughly 300 to 900 feet below Salher. Use "approximately". Do not repeat any of the three figures as fact.

Salher and Salota: The Relationship

Salher is the story. Salota is the flank.

Wikipedia states plainly that no separate history is known about Salota, that the fort adjoins Salher, and that this part of the hill was fortified to give additional protection against the enemy. Durgbharari says the same: Salota shares Salher's significance and has no distinct recorded events of its own.

That makes sense once you stand at the col. Salota commands the western approach to the pass. Whoever held Salher needed Salota, or the pass could be taken from below.

The neighbour's history, briefly, since it is the context for the whole trek:

• Salher's old name was Gavalgarh.
• The fort was under Shrimant Sardar Suryajirao Kakade in 1671.
• The Battle of Salher was fought against the Mughals — Wikipedia's article dates the Mughal attack and the battle to 1672, though 1671 appears in many accounts. It was a major open-field engagement rather than a siege, and the Maratha victory was followed by the capture of Mulher and control over Baglan.
• The Peshwas held it in the eighteenth century, and later the British.

In 2025, at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, Salher was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of Maratha Military Landscapes of India, India's 44th World Heritage property. Twelve forts are included — eleven in Maharashtra (Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg and Sindhudurg) and Gingee in Tamil Nadu.

Salota is not part of that inscription. Its neighbour is. Expect Salher to get busier and better signposted over the next few years, and expect Salota to stay exactly as it is.

Our full Salher fort trek guide covers the bigger fort in detail.

The Route from Waghambe

From the village, the trail is obvious for the first two-thirds because it is the standard Salher approach and heavily used.

Stage 1 — Waghambe to the col, about 1.5 hours. Durgbharari's marker is a small Saptashrungi temple on the left side of the road in Waghambe; the trail to the Salher–Salota pass starts from there. Fill water at the tank near the vehicle parking, because there is nothing above it. From the village you can see Salota's right-hand spur running down towards you; that spur is the route.

The trail is well worn from Salher traffic. On the upper plateau of the spur are ruins that likely served as outposts watching the path to the pass. Rock-cut steps begin to appear as you gain height, and Salota's ramparts, bastions and a cliff-edge gateway come into view above.

Shortly before the col, on the right of the path, a small rock-cut cistern holds water. Durgbharari records that it lasts until around January. This is the last water.

Stage 2 — the col. Right goes up to Salher. Left is Salota. Take the left, narrower trail, which winds around Salota's slope.

Stage 3 — the traverse, about 10 minutes. Durgbharari flags this section for caution: narrow, and slippery. It ends at a rock wall with carved steps and the fort's first gate. Near it are ruins including carved paduka footprints and a shivling, which suggest a guard outpost.

Stage 4 — the final climb. Covered below.

Durgbharari's total from Waghambe: about 1.5 hours to the pass, another 2.5 hours to reach the fort. Wikipedia independently gives about 1.5 hours from Waghambe to the col.

The Exposed Section: Gates and Rock-Cut Steps

This is what makes Salota harder than its neighbour.

The final ascent runs up 50 to 60 rock-cut steps, each roughly 2 to 3 feet high and 5 to 6 feet wide, cut at about a 70-degree angle, with a sharp curve partway up. Durgbharari's description is precise and it matches what people report on the ground: tall steps, steep pitch, and nothing between you and a lot of air.

There is no railing. There is no rope. The step risers are high enough that shorter trekkers will need to use hands.

At the top of that staircase is the main entrance: a carved rock-cut gateway facing west, with lotus carvings on the outer frame and a Ganesh figure at the top. Inside are two large rock-cut guard chambers. Part of the rock ceiling above the gate has collapsed, so you scramble over debris to get through.

Beyond the gate the trail skirts the western edge and turns north to a second, north-facing gate of dressed stone. No guard chamber beside this one; instead, stone platforms above it that likely served as sentry posts.

Further on, at the point where the path turns north, a large section of cliff has collapsed, possibly burying another gateway. You scramble over the fallen rock. A right turn then leads to the third and final gate, rock-cut and east-facing, which opens onto the summit.

Three gates in sequence, which is exactly what Wikipedia's entry describes: "three doors in a line which lead to the main part of the fort."

Wikipedia's claim that reaching the top requires climbing equipment appears to describe a harder or older line. The current route via the rock-cut steps does not need ropes for a competent trekker in dry conditions. In wet conditions, or with a nervous group, a fixed rope on the step section is a reasonable precaution.

An older approach from the opposite end has completely collapsed. Its remains are visible as a depression below, and the gate at that end can only be looked at from a side trail. Do not go looking for it.

What Is on Top

More than its reputation suggests. Durgbharari makes exactly this point — Salota is dismissed as bare, and it is not.

• A triangular summit of roughly 10 acres.
• Two rock-cut water tanks past the second gate, one open and one enclosed. Durgbharari notes the water is not potable.
• Rock-cut caves, both open-mouthed and closed.
• On the eastern tip: a long rock-cut tank, a large platform that may have carried the killedar wada or the sadar, and another water-filled tank.
• A dilapidated structure at the far end housing a Hanuman idol coated in vermillion.
• Substantial stretches of eastern rampart with surviving loopholes (fanji). Another gateway lies beneath, its approach blocked by collapse.
• Two more rock-cut cisterns and ruins near the western edge.
• The western knoll, and the reason to come: a full view of Salher with its carved steps and pyramid shape, plus a panorama over the Dang region of Gujarat.

Durgbharari puts about an hour on exploring Salota properly. That is right if you are moving; give it ninety minutes if you want to sit on the western knoll and look at Salher, which you will.

Difficulty: An Honest Read

Hard. Not technical, but hard.

Durgbharari grades Salota hard where it grades many Sahyadri forts medium. The reasons are specific:

1. The 70-degree rock-cut staircase with 2–3 foot risers and no protection. Anyone with a serious fear of heights should stop at the col.
2. The slope traverse before the first gate, described as narrow and slippery.
3. Two collapsed sections requiring scrambling over loose rock, including one directly above the main gateway.
4. No water on the ascent past the cistern near the col, and none potable on top.
5. Remoteness. Waghambe is 134 km from Nashik. There is no quick evacuation from this ridge.

Who should do it: trekkers who have already done something with real exposure — Harihar fort's famous staircase is the closest local reference point, and if Harihar's steps did not bother you, Salota's will not either.

Who should not: first-timers, and anyone doing it in the monsoon without a rope and someone who has been up before. If you are still building up, work through our beginner's Sahyadri safety checklist and get a few graded forts behind you first.

Water on the Trek

Take this seriously. It is the most likely thing to ruin your day.

Durgbharari is explicit: there is no water source on the way until the fort top, and trekkers must fill at the tank beside the vehicle parking in Waghambe.

The only intermediate source is the small rock-cut cistern shortly before the col, on the right of the path, which holds water until around January. That means from roughly February onwards, there is nothing at all between the village and the top.

The two rock-cut tanks on the Salota summit hold water but Durgbharari states it is not potable.

Carry three litres per person minimum if you are doing Salota alone, and four to five litres if you are combining it with Salher in one day. Add electrolytes. In October and March that ridge is hotter and more exposed than the Nashik forecast will suggest.

How to Reach Waghambe

From Nashik

134 km per Durgbharari. Drive via Satana (Baglan) and Taharabad. Four to five hours on rural roads. This is the standard approach.

From Satana (Baglan)

45 km via Taharabad per Durgbharari. Satana is the nearest real town and the last reliable place for fuel, an ATM and supplies.

From Mumbai

There is no direct route. Drive or take a bus to Nashik, then continue via Satana. Realistically an overnight journey followed by a morning start, or an early-hours departure. Budget six to seven hours from Mumbai to Waghambe.

From Pune

Via Nashik or via Sangamner and Malegaon. Long. Most Pune groups do this as a two-night trip rather than a day trip.

By train and bus

Nashik Road is the nearest major railway station; Manmad is the other useful junction for trains from the east and south. From either, take a bus to Satana, then a local ST bus or shared jeep towards Waghambe. Village services are infrequent. Confirm return timings before you set out or arrange a vehicle.

Guide

Wikipedia recommends hiring a local guide from the village. For Salota specifically, this is good advice — the branch left at the col and the traverse below the first gate are the two places where a first visit goes wrong.

The Salher–Salota Combined Itinerary

Durgbharari lays out the efficient version, and it is the right way to do it: climb Salota first, cross the pass to Salher, explore, and descend to Salherwadi.

Doing Salota first matters. It is the harder fort and it deserves your fresh legs and dry rock. Salher's descent is long but straightforward.

Full day plan

Time	Plan
5:00 AM	Leave Waghambe, headtorches on. Fill all water at the parking tank
6:30 AM	Reach the Salher–Salota col
6:40 AM	Take the left branch, traverse Salota's slope
8:00 AM	Through the rock-cut gates onto Salota's summit
9:00 AM	Western knoll, Salher view, breakfast
9:45 AM	Descend the rock-cut steps carefully, back to the col
11:00 AM	Start up Salher
12:30 PM	Salher summit, Parshuram temple, Gangasagar lake
2:30 PM	Begin the descent towards Salherwadi
5:00 PM	Salherwadi. Arrange transport back to your vehicle at Waghambe

The transport detail at the end is the part people forget. If you park at Waghambe and descend to Salherwadi, someone has to move the car. Sort that out in the morning, with a local driver, before you start walking.

Durgbharari's note is worth repeating: starting early in the morning makes both forts comfortable in one day. Starting at nine makes them miserable.

Wikipedia adds a practical trick used by many trekkers — leave heavy rucksacks at the col, climb Salota light, come back down, collect the bags and go up Salher for a night halt.

Accommodation and Camping

On Salota: no. Wikipedia states there is no place for a comfortable stay on the fort. There are rock-cut caves, but the tanks are not potable and the summit is exposed.

On Salher: yes. Salher has caves and structures that trekkers use for night halts and it is the standard camping choice for the pair. Carry all water up.

In Waghambe: ask in the village. Small homestay arrangements exist informally, especially in season. Agree the amount in advance.

In Salherwadi: the other base village on the Salher side, with similar informal options.

In Satana: lodges and basic hotels, 45 km away. The sensible fallback if you arrive late.

In Nashik: full range of hotels, but 134 km from the base — meaning a pre-dawn start.

Food

Nothing on either fort. Nothing at the col. Carry everything.

Waghambe and Salherwadi are small villages. Meals can sometimes be arranged with a family if you ask ahead, but do not count on it, and do not turn up at 8 PM expecting dinner.

Buy supplies in Satana. It is the last town with reasonable shops.

What to carry: dry food that survives a rucksack, something salty, electrolyte sachets, and more water than you think. Rehydrating a cramping trekker on that ridge is not a situation you want.

Nearby Attractions

• Salher fort, the obvious companion — highest fort in Maharashtra, UNESCO-listed since 2025, with the Renuka Devi temple, Parshuram temple, Gangasagar lake and superb rock-cut walkways.
• Mulher fort, taken by the Marathas after the Battle of Salher, part of the same Baglan cluster.
• Hargad fort, in the same range.
• Saptashrungi Gad near Vani, a major shakti-peeth pilgrimage site, and a reasonable stop on the drive from Nashik.
• Nashik city — Trimbakeshwar, the Godavari ghats and the Pandavleni caves, all worth a day.
• Harihar fort, elsewhere in Nashik district, and the best warm-up for Salota's exposure.
• Kalsubai, Maharashtra's highest peak, if you are collecting summits in this region.

Budget Breakdown

Per person, group of five in one vehicle, two days from Nashik covering Salota and Salher.

Item	Cost (₹)
Vehicle hire or fuel, split five ways	900–1,600
Local guide, split	200–400
Village homestay or camping arrangement	300–600
Meals arranged in the village	300–600
Food and water carried up	300–500
Vehicle repositioning Waghambe to Salherwadi	100–250
Entry fees	0
Total	₹2,100–3,950

By public transport from Nashik the trip costs less — roughly ₹1,200–2,000 — but the connections to Waghambe are slow and infrequent, and you will need an extra half-day at each end.

Practical Tips

Start before dawn. Every version of this trek works better with a 5 AM departure from the village.

Hire a guide from Waghambe for a first visit. The left branch at the col and the traverse below the first gate are the two decision points.

Carry a 20–30 metre rope if your group includes anyone hesitant on exposure. You will not need it in dry conditions. You will be very glad of it in wet ones.

Fill every bottle at the Waghambe parking tank. Not at the col, not "later".

Load offline maps and mark the col. Signal on the upper ridge is unreliable at best.

Headtorch, always, even for a day trip. Both descents are long enough that a slow group finishes in the dark.

Sort out your vehicle logistics before you walk, if you are traversing Waghambe to Salherwadi.

Proper boots with a stiff sole and real edging. Those 2–3 foot rock-cut risers punish soft shoes. See our Sahyadri footwear guide.

Cash. There is no ATM after Satana.

Safety Tips

The rock-cut staircase is the crux. Seventy degrees, high risers, no protection, a sharp curve. Go up one at a time. Face in on the descent — do not walk down those steps forwards. Never descend them in rain if you can avoid it.

The collapsed ceiling above the main gate. Loose rock overhead and underfoot. Keep spacing so a dislodged stone does not hit someone below.

The traverse below the first gate is narrow and slippery per Durgbharari. Slow down here even though it looks easy.

Do not drink the summit tank water. Durgbharari records it as not potable. Carry your own.

Heat and dehydration. Exposed ridge, no shade above the col, and no refill. In March, April and October this is the real danger, not the exposure.

Remoteness. 134 km from Nashik, no road access past the village, patchy signal. Leave your route and expected return time with someone who is not on the trek. Carry a proper first aid kit.

Monsoon. The rock-cut steps in rain are a serious proposition and the traverse becomes genuinely dangerous. If you go, go with a rope and someone who knows the line. Read our monsoon trekking safety guide first.

Wildlife. Baglan's forest cover is thin but snakes are active on the lower spur in and after the monsoon. Do not reach blindly into rock-cut chambers or cistern edges.

Check the forecast properly. Our pre-trek weather check guide explains what actually matters, and this is not a ridge to be caught on in a thunderstorm.

Common Mistakes

Doing Salher first and Salota second. You will hit the hardest steps tired, in afternoon heat. Reverse it.

Underestimating the water problem. There is nothing above the col cistern, and that cistern is empty from roughly February.

Turning up without a guide on a first visit and losing time at the col.

Descending the rock-cut steps facing outwards.

Parking at Waghambe, descending to Salherwadi, and only then wondering how to get back to the car.

Assuming Salota is a quick add-on to Salher. Durgbharari's timings give 2.5 hours from the col to the fort. It is a fort in its own right.

Quoting a single confident height figure for Salota. Three exist and they disagree.

Expecting Salota to be UNESCO-listed. Salher is. Salota is not.

Best Time to Visit

November to February — best. Cool, dry, stable rock, and the cistern near the col still holding water into January. Clear air means you get the Dang panorama from the western knoll. December is ideal.

October — good. The ridge is still green from the monsoon and visibility is excellent. Hotter than it looks on an exposed slope; carry extra water.

Late June to September — for experienced trekkers only. The range is beautiful in the rains and the Selbari ridge in cloud is something to see. The rock-cut steps and the traverse are the problem. Do not attempt Salota in heavy rain without a rope and a leader who has done it dry.

March to May — avoid. No water anywhere on the route, no shade above the col, and an exposed south-facing climb. This combination has hurt people on Sahyadri ridges.

Time of day: be at the col by 6:30 AM. Everything about this trek is better before the sun gets on the rock.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is Salota fort? Sources disagree. Wikipedia lists 1,295 m, approximately 4,250 ft. Durgbharari's page header gives 4,740 ft while its text places the summit at 4,550 ft. The honest range is approximately 4,250 to 4,750 ft. What is agreed is that Salota is lower than Salher, which stands at 1,567 m / 5,141 ft.

Is Salota harder than Salher? Yes. Durgbharari grades Salota hard. The final ascent runs up 50 to 60 rock-cut steps of 2 to 3 feet each, cut at roughly 70 degrees with no railing, reached by a narrow, slippery traverse. Salher is longer but far less exposed.

What is the base village for the Salota trek? Waghambe, on Salota's northern foothill, about 134 km from Nashik and 45 km from Satana via Taharabad. The trail starts near a small Saptashrungi temple in the village. Salherwadi and Maldaur also give access to the col.

Can Salher and Salota be done in one day? Yes, if you start very early. Climb Salota first, cross the col to Salher, then descend to Salherwadi. Durgbharari gives about 1.5 hours from Waghambe to the col and about 2.5 hours from there to Salota; allow a full twelve-hour day for the pair.

Is water available on the Salota trek? Barely. Fill everything at the tank beside the parking in Waghambe. A small rock-cut cistern shortly before the col holds water until around January. The summit tanks are recorded as not potable. Carry three litres minimum, more for the combo.

Do you need climbing equipment for Salota? Wikipedia's entry says the climb requires climbing equipment, which appears to describe a harder or older line. The current route via the rock-cut steps does not need ropes for a competent trekker in dry conditions. Carry a rope for a nervous group or for wet rock.

Is there an entry fee or permit for Salota fort? No entry fee or permit has been reported. It is an unmanned fort with no gate staff and no ticketing.

Is Salota part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing? No. Salher was inscribed in 2025 as part of Maratha Military Landscapes of India, India's 44th World Heritage property, alongside eleven other forts. Salota is not included.

Can you camp on Salota fort? Not comfortably. Wikipedia notes there is no place for a comfortable stay on the fort, and the water on top is not potable. Camp on Salher instead, or stay in Waghambe or Salherwadi.

Conclusion

Salota is the fort you do because you have already done Salher and want to know what the other side of the col looks like. It repays that curiosity better than almost any second fort in Maharashtra: three carved gateways, guard chambers cut into living rock, ramparts with loopholes still standing, and a summit view of Salher that its own visitors never get.

It is also steep, exposed, waterless above the col, and a long way from help. Do it in December, do it early, do it before Salher rather than after, and take a guide the first time.

The neighbour got the World Heritage plaque. Salota got the better view of it.

Call to Action

Doing the Baglan range properly? Start with our Salher fort trek guide for the bigger half of the pair, and use the Sahyadri beginner safety checklist and footwear guide to prepare. If exposure is what worries you, Harihar fort is the right warm-up. Been up Salota recently? Tell us the state of the rock-cut steps and whether the col cistern still had water — that is exactly the information the next group needs.

Image Alt Text Suggestions

1. Salota fort seen from Salher fort across the col, Baglan Nashik
2. Rock-cut steps at 70 degrees on the final ascent to Salota fort
3. Carved west-facing rock-cut gateway with lotus motifs, Salota fort
4. Rock-cut guard chambers inside the main gate of Salota fort
5. Salher fort's carved steps and pyramid profile viewed from Salota's western knoll
6. The Salher–Salota col on the Selbari Dolbari ridge
7. Trail from Waghambe village to the Salher Salota pass
8. Rock-cut water cisterns on the Salota fort summit plateau
9. Eastern ramparts with loopholes on Salota fort
10. Panorama over the Dang region of Gujarat from Salota fort

Sources

1. Wikipedia — Salota fort (location in Baglan, relationship to Salher, three gates in a line, two rock-cut cisterns, Waghambe base, 1.5 hours to the col, guide advice, no comfortable stay on the fort): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salota_fort
2. Durgbharari — Salota (Suresh Nimbalkar): route from Waghambe, distances from Nashik and Satana, stage timings, cistern near the col, traverse, 50–60 rock-cut steps at 70 degrees, three gateways, summit features, water not potable, combined Salher itinerary: https://durgbharari.in/salota/
3. Wikipedia — Salher (height 1,567 m / 5,141 ft, Gavalgarh, Suryajirao Kakade, Battle of Salher, Peshwa and British occupation, UNESCO inscription details): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salher
4. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Maratha Military Landscapes of India (Ref. 1739): https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1739/
5. Press Information Bureau, Government of India — Maratha Military Landscapes of India inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as India's 44th entry: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2144154
6. UNESCO — 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' inscribed on the World Heritage List: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/maratha-military-landscapes-india-inscribed-unesco-world-heritage-list-indias-44th-world-heritage-0
7. Wikipedia — Baglan taluka: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baglan_taluka

Verification note: partial. District, taluka, range, base village, route, stage timings, gate sequence, summit features, water situation and the Salher combination are verified against Wikipedia and Durgbharari. Salher's height and its 2025 UNESCO inscription are verified against Wikipedia, UNESCO and PIB. Salota's own height is not reliably established — three conflicting figures are given in the text with their sources named. Wikipedia's statement that climbing equipment is required conflicts with Durgbharari's description of the rock-cut step route; both positions are stated. No entry fee or permit is reported; confirm locally if that changes.