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Sanjay
Gandhi National Park
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Welcome to . .
National Park
 Visitors
to Mumbai are rather
surprised to see that there are 104 sq kms. of virgin forest
within its borders, just waiting to be explored. For
visitors who are eager to stray off the beaten track, the
Sanjay Gandhi National Park, better known as Borivali
National Park, offers a pleasant change from the usual
sights and attractions of the big city. It is hence not
uncommon to see the park teeming with school picnics,
College picnics and other organized excursions. 
Borivali
is one of the suburbs on the Western Railway in Mumbai. A
mini metropolis, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is
unique because it can be visited all round the year. In the
hot, dry summer months the jungle is a riot of colour as
Goolmohar, flame - of - the - forest and the flowering silk
cotton give the otherwise harsh brown forest a crimson
blush. Borivali in the rains has a charm of its own. The
entire forest is a carpet of green and streams, swollen with
rainwater tumble and meander down the slopes. The rains
automatically draw trekkers, bird - watchers and nature
lovers of all ages to this verdant paradise
The
recreational area of this park includes The Kanheri
Caves, The Tulsi and Vihar lakes, The Lion Safari ,The
Deer park, The samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi and The Gardens.
Kanheri caves: 109 Buddhist caves are situated in the
central part of the park and are evidence of the existence
of monastic settlements in 2nd to 9th century A.D. They are
a collection of Viharas and Chaityas, well connected with
pathways and contain stone beds and cisterns. Cave 3 is
known as the Great Chaitya and is characterized by 5 huge
pillars and a large dome at the far end of the cave .They
are mainly shelters in rock, though some caves do have
beautiful sculptures.
The
Lion Safari and Deer park.- A boon for the less adventurous,
this area of the park is spread over 13 hectares. The
natural wildlife of this park consists of a dwindling
population of Tigers, Lions and Panthers. The ride through
this area is in a minibus which affords a close view without
any great physical exertion. The Deer park in this area has
a collection of sambar, Chital and the Four horned antelope.
A mini train
winds along a picturesque, 15 minute route over bridges and
through tunnels, past the foothills of the samadhi and the
deer park.
The
Tulsi Lake and the Vihar lake provide drinking water to the
mammoth population in the suburbs, and are a prime catchment
area. Special permission is required to visit these areas.
Various nature trails snake through the depth of the forest
and are a haven for the trekkers, who wish to discover the
sights on their own. Two trails Yewoor and Silonda can be
accessed through permission of the Forest officers.
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Getting there |
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By Road:
Borivali is accessible by road. Depending on the traffic,
the trip could take around 75 minutes from Churchgate
driving along the Western Express High way.On Sundays and
public holidays, a regular bus service plies between
Borivali station and the Kanheri
Caves, passing through the recreational area. Taxies are
also available.
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Places
to see near by |
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