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The Sanjay Gandhi or Borivali National Park has the distinction of being the only National Park in Mumbai. Notified in 1974, it is set in hill ranges around the suburb of Borivali in Mumbai. It plays host to various wildlife species like the panther, antelope, mouse deer and wild bear. Children particularly enjoy riding the colourful toy train here, as it winds its way through the vast park. In the Lion Safari Park, visitors can view lions as close as six feet away, from the special park vehicles.
The park is a paradise for the lovers of avifauna and it is difficult for them not to be attracted by their charm here in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
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LOCATION Sanjay Gandhi National Park is located in Borivali, east of the Thane district, at distance of 40 km north from Mumbai. The park extends from the latitude 190°21' in the North to the longitude 720°58' in the East. Mumbai is the largest metropolis in India and located on the Arabian Sea in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city is well connected to all parts of the county by air, rail and road networks. Mumbai also has the highest number of international flight connections in India. CLIMATE The climate of the park is pleasant during winter (November-March) and hot during summer. The temperature is on the rise from the month of March until the monsoons break here in mid-June, and goes on till September. October offers relief from the humidity and heat. |
Flora: 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, and species of acacia, ziziphus, euphorbia, flame of the forest, red silk cotton and many more varieties of flowers. During the monsoon, almost the entire park is awash with the rainbow hues of the flowers that bloom here and all over the Western Ghats.
Avifauna: The Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a paradise for the bird watchers of Mumbai. Despite receiving the highest number of visitors, 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. At many times, migratory and resident birds like paradise flycatcher, kingfisher, mynas, drongos, swifts, gulls, egrets, and herons have also been seen here.
In total 251 species of birds have been seen here according to the wildlife experts that include water and land birds.
Wildlife: The park is known to sheltering wildlife right from the time urbanization began in Mumbai. One can have encounters with several of the species including spotted deer, black naped hare, barking deer, porcupine, palm civet, mouse deer, rhesus macaque, bounet macaque, Hanuman langur, Indian flying fox, and sambhar.
One is surprised by the density of leopards in this park despite its nearness to an urban settlement. One can also encounter here a hyena or four horned antelope. Reptiles have also made this park their habitat and one can see crocodiles in the Tulsi Lake, and pythons, cobras, monitor lizards, Russell's viper, bamboo pit viper and Ceylonese cat snake here.
Kanheri Caves: Kanheri or Kanhasela, as the two inscriptions from the place have named it, is the biggest Buddhist monastic establishment on the Konkan coast. It is situated in the heart of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and is one of the better-known sites in Mumbai.
The architectural activity at Kanheri began three centuries before Christ-almost immediately after the introduction of Buddhism in this region. The first simple caves were excavated during the reign of the Satvahana kings who came to the fore after the disintegration of the Mauryan Empire in India. In the earliest period the caves were meant to shelter wandering monks during the rainy season. At this time, vault-roofed chaitya griha were in vogue. From the 1st century AD, the caves appear to have been in occupation throughout the year. The monks were provided with cells with stone benches to sleep, along with accessories like a large number of cisterns, refectories and even bathing facilities. Food, medicine and clothing appear to have been stored here. The huge chaitya griha is believed to have been added during the reign of Gautamiputra Satakarni (AD 106-130). Unprecedented in dimension and beauty and the first of its kind on the Konkan coast, it began to attract numerous monks and laymen alike. A large number of donations appear to have been made by citizens, traders, royal women, even foreigners (yavanas) from nearby cities like Kalyan, Sopara and Thane.
However, the later part of the 3rd century AD was the most active period for the Kanheri establishment with numerous cells being added. There are suggestions of it being a school, with 60 to 70 monks in residence and had dining rooms with a capacity of catering to 120 diners.
An unusual feature at Kanheri is the number of open benches cut into rocks and benches in the verandahs or frontcourts of almost all the caves.
PLACES NEARBY
The Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a part of Greater Mumbai and Mumbai is one of the largest metropolises in the world and definitely the largest in India. The main highlights of the city are the Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum, Elephanta Island, Flora Fountain, Haji Ali's Tomb, Kamla Nehru Park, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Nehru Planetarium, Nehru Science Centre, and Marine Drive.
REACHING THERE
By Air:The nearest airport is Santa Cruz at a distance of 16 km for domestic air travel. This airport is connected to almost all the major Indian cities with regular flights.
The nearest international airport is Sahar at a distance of around 20 km from the park.
By Train: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) at a distance of 40 km is the nearest railway hub connected to almost all the parts of India by regular trains. Borivali Station is the nearest railway station connected to Mumbai CST and Mumbai Central Railway terminuses.
By Road: The park is connected to all parts of Mumbai and other places in Maharashtra with very good road connections. Buses ply on Sunday's and holiday's from Mumbai to the Park. Chartered vehicles are available to the park on all days from Mumbai.
STAYING THERE
Four rest houses and two camp sheds are available within the park area for the visitors to reside. One can contact the wildlife authorities for bookings daily from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
LINKS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
STD/ISD, postal, and Internet facilities are available in the areas near the park. Communication is easy given the status of Mumbai.
TRAVEL TIPS
The sanctuary timings are from 09.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. everyday. The Tiger Safari is closed on Mondays. For more information on the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, one can contact -
Divisional Manager (Deputy Conservator of Forests)
Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali (East)
Mumbai 400066
Phone 6057362
Chief Wildlife Warden
Government of Maharashtra, Mumbai
Bombay Natural History Society
Hornbill House, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road
Mumbai 400023
