Sanjay Gandhi National Park In Mumbai

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Location:

Sanjay Gandhi National Park is situated at about 42 km north of Mumbai.

About the Origin:

Spreading over an area of 104 sq. km, it has a strong historical background. In the pre-independence era when the Forest Department came into existence.

View of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai

They named the forest area near the two ancient ports of Nala Sopara and Kalyan (dates back to 4th century) as the Krishnagiri National Park and at that time the area was just 20.26 sq.km and in 1969, the park was expanded to its present size.

Studies have shown that the park had been present during the 4th century BC. In its close neighborhood, there were two ports by the names of Sopara and Kalyan which were used to trade with countries like Greece and Mesopotamia. The route between these two ports traverses from this park. After that in the pre-independence era it was named Krishnagiri National Park. In 1969, the Park enclosed an area of merely 20.26 sq km and then various properties adjoining the park were acquired to obtain the present area. Later, it was named Borivali National Park after the adjoining area of Borivali. In 1981, the park was christened Sanjay Gandhi National Park after Sanjay Gandhi, the son of Ilate Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Total Area:

Borivali National Park in Mumbai, India - now known as Sanjay Gandhi National Park is situated at about 42 kms north of Mumbai. Virgin forests spread over 104 sq kms are the home to various varieties of birds and is known as a bird watcher's paradise.

What it is famous for?

Sanjay Gandhi National Park is much-admired to be an exclusive and largest park in the world to be located within city limits. Earlier called Borivali National Park, the wildlife haven was initially intended to be a natural retreat outside Mumbai. Over the years, the park got into the periphery of the growing city. Sited on the north of Bombay, the wildlife asylum is managed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, a governing body of the Government of India. Spread in an area of 104 sq km, the park is delimited by the Island city on its three sides.

With 2 million (approx) visitors every year, it is the most visited national park in the whole Asia. It is also the place where the Kanhari caves carved by Buddhist monks exist. Notified in 1974, it offers a pleasant change from the usual sights and attractions of the big city. The rolling green lands of the Borivili National Park are just the kind of surroundings to which one would love to retreat for some moments for quiet meditation. Rising from an elevation less than about 30 meters above the mean sea level, the terrain of the park culminates in a series of peaks dispersed throughout the park - the highest, near the Kanheri Caves being 468 meters.

Most of the area is hilly and reaches to the maximum height of 400 meters. The Park's splendor gets doubled with the presence of Vihar Lake and Tulsi Lake.

Main Attraction: Panthers.

The Flora and Fauna:

The park is a tree lover's delight at all times of the year; with every changing season offering up its own unique attractiveness. The forest cover in the park can be divided into two main categories i.e. South Indian moist deciduous and Semi Evergreen. These two types can be further classified into four subcategories and they are: moist teak-bearing forest, mangrove scrub, southern moist mixed deciduous forest and western subtropical hill forest. The region has good biodiversity and major trees and plants include kadamba, teak, karanj, shisam, species of acacia, ziziphus, euphorbia, flame of the forest, red silk cotton and many more varieties of flowers. During the monsoons, almost the entire park is awash with the rainbow hues of the flowers that bloom here and all over the Western Ghats. For the breathtaking sight of Strobilanthes (Karvi) the Western Ghats is famous.

The bustling forest of the park is abode to almost 800 species of flowering plants, 284 species of birds, 5,000 species of insects, 36 types of mammals, 50 kinds of reptiles and 150 species of butterfly. It also has abundant endangered species of plants and animals. It has the distinction of comprising Atlas moth that was discovered here and known to be the world's largest moth. Animals and reptiles like Spotted Deer, Rhesus Macaque, Bonnet Macaque, Black Naped Hare, Barking Deer, Porcupine, Palm Civet, Mouse Deer, Hanuman Langur, Indian Flying Fox, Sambhar, Crocodiles, Pythons, Cobras, Monitor Lizards, Russell's viper, Bamboo Pit Viper, Ceylonese and Cat Snake thrive in its forests. Toy Train called Vanrani, makes the special attraction for both children and adults in the park. Rock climbing is another sport activity that is booming in the region.

The National Park is popular as a real Bird Watcher's heaven The park is the nesting land for 274 kinds of birds - which are almost a quarter of all bird species found in India. The park has a large number of bird species like Jungle owlets, Golden orioles, Racket-tailed drongos, Minivets, Magpies, Robins, Hornbills, Bulbuls, Sunbirds, Peacock, and Woodpeckers. Many a time, migratory and resident birds like Paradise flycatcher, Kingfisher, Mynas, Swifts, Gulls, Egrets, and Herons have also been seen here.

Best Season to Visit: October to March.

Nearest Place: Borivali is the nearest station from where it is 3 km away.

How to Reach: It is easily reachable from anywhere in Mumbai by any vehicle.