Sanjay Gandhi National Park

4.5

Location: Western Express Hwy, Borivali East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400066, India.

Estimated Visiting Time: 2- 3 hours

The Sanjay Gandhi National Park is situated in the heart of Mumbai city, and it is arguably the only urban wilderness that is surrounded by a population of about 20 million people. Its area of about 104 sq. km. of pure wilderness is a treasure trove of biodiversity and more interestingly it forms about 20 percent of Mumbai’s metropolitan area.

Attraction

This park features a vintage toy train called Van rani that runs on a narrow gauge. The train ride lasting about 15 minutes takes you along the foothills of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial on Pavilion Hill.

The Vihar Lake and the Tulsi Lake are the two artificial lakes inside the national park, and these are the best attraction of this place. The view of the Western Ghats in the backdrop is jaw-dropping especially during monsoons when cloud covers are almost at level with the peaks another attraction is a boating service that is available near the Van rani start point.

History

Before This park was named ‘Krishnagiri National Park’ in the pre-independence era. Covering almost twenty-six square kilometers in the area back then, in 1969 this national park was expanded to its present size by appending other reserve forest properties to the park. An independent unit of the Forest Department called ‘Borivali National Park Sub-division’ was set up later in this area. In 1974 The Krishnagiri National Park was created and later renamed ‘Borivali National Park’. It was again renamed ‘Sanjay Gandhi National Park in memory of former Prime Minister, Sanjay Gandhi in 1981.

Inside/Outside Views

This place is Located within the Western Ghats’ biodiversity hotspots home to 35 species of mammals, 274 species of birds,150 species of butterflies, 78 species of reptiles and amphibians, and staggering 1300+ species of plants. By the day the list of animals and plants found in this place is increasing as more explorations are happening here. These forests support one of the densest populations of wild leopards Panthera pardus and as per recent information, the 104 sq. km. forest is sustaining at least 21 wild leopards today.