Sanjay Gandhi National Park – A Green Heaven for Mumbaikars
Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. Business transactions worth crores are carried out every day here. With the property prices zooming, it’s now almost impossible to find a green verge inside the city. The city has turned into a brick-and-mortar jungle. That’s why it is very difficult to imagine that barely 90 minutes from the city, there is a green heaven for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. The forested hills of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park are full of birds, butterflies, chital, sambar deer, rhesus macaque, antelope, flying fox, many species of flowering plants, monkeys, and that elusive wild leopard too. The Sanjay Gandhi National Park is also home to many species of migratory birds between October and April.
That’s the Sanjay Gandhi National Park for you. The park is located in the northern edge of the city. It is teeming with a wide variety of flora and fauna. Not only does it provide valuable oxygen to the city, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is just the right kind of place for city dwellers who have been robbed of their green coverage. It’s the much needed oxygen for the soul as well. And the best part is that, the park is so close to the city that you could go there anytime you feel escaping the madness of Mumbai.
Sanjay Gandhi National Park Safari Tour
True, the park is not as wild as some other national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of the country. But it’s still serene and dense. There is a toy train inside the park you can take to go through the greens. Major attractions include the tiger and lion safari. A bus will take you through the safari. You are sure to see the wild animals in this 20 minute ride. You should also visit the Tiger Orientation Centre to learn about the wild cat and its natural habitat. There is a small exhibition too that showcases the park’s wildlife.
Kanheri Caves
Another major attraction within the park is the Kanheri caves that go back 2400 years. There are actually 109 caves here that have been carved out from the rocky mounts. Buddhist monks used these caves as their monasteries (viharas) and temples (chaityas) between the 2nd and 9thcenturies. Don’t miss the seven meter tall status of Buddha. Of course, you cannot really compare these caves with the ones you will find at Ellora, Ajanta or even at Lonavla. But they are still worth visiting.
