Sanjay Gandhi National Park is the largest National Park in the world within city limits.
The natural jungle amidst the concrete jungle of Mumbai is highly recommended for nature lovers.
The park covers around 102 sq.km area and also encompasses the famous Kanheri Cave complex (between 1st century BC and 9th century AD), two lakes Tulsi and Vihar Lake that provide water to Mumbai city.
The park is rich in flora and fauna over 1000 species of plants, numerous kinds of migratory birds, mammals,reptiles, amphibians etc.
Spotted dear, Rhesus Macaque, Langur, Barking Deer, Flying Fox, Sambar deer and leopards rules the jungle in majority.
When you trek through the jungle, you are more likely to see all these animals except the leopard, for that you have to be really lucky.
The jungle is also home to Hyenas, Civets, Crocodiles, Pythons,Vipers(crocodiles majorly in the tulsi lake) and fast variety of birds viz hornbills, kingfishers, gulls, flycatchers, bull bulls, peacocks, wood pecker etc. To see all these , you have to literaly trek through the core jungle, which is not every one's cup of tea.
The park also offers Tiger and Lion safari, which being the major tourist attraction which every one can access to.
The Park is said to have a total of about 25 lions and lionesses though, its very hard to see many of them up close. I could see only 1 lion during my visit.
The park offers caged bus trip to these safari on a ticket basis, rate being Rs. 30/-. Safari trip is only allowed for the park authority buses.
A couple of tigers and one white tiger are kept semi confined in a fenced area like a mini zoo, which can also be accessed via the fenced tour bus.
This opportunity gives visitors to see the lions and tigers in their natural habitats.
Shilonda trail
The Shilonda trail entrance can be found from about 1 Km inside the park It is a trail lined with bamboos, scrubs, small plants, creeper with the small forest river cutting across it, also leads you to the kanheri caves. Its the best trail for photography especially macro and to get close to the core of the jungle. You can often spot the pug marks of deers and foxes, if lucky of leopards as well on the wet muds, mostly near to the river.
The best time to do the trail is post monsoons, when the lush greenery steals the beauty, the forest rivers flowing wild giving us candid moments and memories to reminisce.
The park also offers boat riding facility for Rs.15.
Visitors also have the option of renting out the bicycle to promote eco-friendly measures, the bicycling is restricted to the tiger and lion safaris.
Bicycles in good condition can be rented out for Rs 20/ per hour + a refundable fixed deposit.
You can also take a tour of the park by vehicles also on a chargeable basis.
The threat of leopard attacks on the tribals and the neighbouring concrete jungle is also on a rising scale. As leopards can climb the trees, they easily enter the neighbouring urban provinces of the park.Instances of poaching are also being reported on an alarming scale giving the forest officials a huge onus on their shoulders to keep the biodiversity in tact.
The natural jungle amidst the concrete jungle of Mumbai is highly recommended for nature lovers.
The park covers around 102 sq.km area and also encompasses the famous Kanheri Cave complex (between 1st century BC and 9th century AD), two lakes Tulsi and Vihar Lake that provide water to Mumbai city.
The park is rich in flora and fauna over 1000 species of plants, numerous kinds of migratory birds, mammals,reptiles, amphibians etc.
Spotted dear, Rhesus Macaque, Langur, Barking Deer, Flying Fox, Sambar deer and leopards rules the jungle in majority.
When you trek through the jungle, you are more likely to see all these animals except the leopard, for that you have to be really lucky.
The jungle is also home to Hyenas, Civets, Crocodiles, Pythons,Vipers(crocodiles majorly in the tulsi lake) and fast variety of birds viz hornbills, kingfishers, gulls, flycatchers, bull bulls, peacocks, wood pecker etc. To see all these , you have to literaly trek through the core jungle, which is not every one's cup of tea.
The park also offers Tiger and Lion safari, which being the major tourist attraction which every one can access to.
The Park is said to have a total of about 25 lions and lionesses though, its very hard to see many of them up close. I could see only 1 lion during my visit.
The park offers caged bus trip to these safari on a ticket basis, rate being Rs. 30/-. Safari trip is only allowed for the park authority buses.
A couple of tigers and one white tiger are kept semi confined in a fenced area like a mini zoo, which can also be accessed via the fenced tour bus.
This opportunity gives visitors to see the lions and tigers in their natural habitats.
Shilonda trail
The Shilonda trail entrance can be found from about 1 Km inside the park It is a trail lined with bamboos, scrubs, small plants, creeper with the small forest river cutting across it, also leads you to the kanheri caves. Its the best trail for photography especially macro and to get close to the core of the jungle. You can often spot the pug marks of deers and foxes, if lucky of leopards as well on the wet muds, mostly near to the river.
The best time to do the trail is post monsoons, when the lush greenery steals the beauty, the forest rivers flowing wild giving us candid moments and memories to reminisce.
The park also offers boat riding facility for Rs.15.
Visitors also have the option of renting out the bicycle to promote eco-friendly measures, the bicycling is restricted to the tiger and lion safaris.
Bicycles in good condition can be rented out for Rs 20/ per hour + a refundable fixed deposit.
You can also take a tour of the park by vehicles also on a chargeable basis.
The threat of leopard attacks on the tribals and the neighbouring concrete jungle is also on a rising scale. As leopards can climb the trees, they easily enter the neighbouring urban provinces of the park.Instances of poaching are also being reported on an alarming scale giving the forest officials a huge onus on their shoulders to keep the biodiversity in tact.
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| Warli Painting |
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| Warli Painting |
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| Commercial side of the national park |
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| Fennel plant aka Saunf (hindi), normally used as mouth freshener |
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| Pug marks of a deer |
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| Pug marks |
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| The Langur - King of monkeys |
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| Spot the spotted dear |
