By David H. Urmann

Sanjay National Park or the Borivali National Park is situated close to Mumbai. It is considered as the largest park in the world with so many species of flora and fauna to see. Various activities await guests of this park.

Sanjay Ghandi National Park is also called Borivali National Park. It is located along suburban Mumbais northern fringes. It is about 104 sq. kilometers and it is surrounded by the most populous city of India on all 3 sections. Mumbai is only 40 kilometers north.

The park is also one amongst the most visited national parks in Asia. Within city limits, it is regarded as the worlds largest park. It is loud for its undulating green lands and retreat ambiance. If you want to get away from the noise and hassles of the city, this is the best place to get quiet meditation and introspection. With great views of the lakes, valleys, open expanses and hills visiting this park can trigger therapeutic effects!

Inside Sanjay Ghandi National Park there are ancient caves they called the Kanheri caves. These date back 2.400 years ago. It also features a rich fauna and flora. Set on about 104 square kilometers, the park is very well connected by road through all sections of Maharashtra and Mumbai. There are also buses available during Sundays and holidays.

With a maximum height of 480 meters, this region is quite hilly. There are also 2 lakes that encompass the park Tulsi Lake and Vihar Lake. Aside from this, the park is noted as the lungs of the city because it can purify most of the citys pollution.

As a bustling forest, the park has about 800 kinds of flowering plants, 5,000 insect species, 284 types of birds, 62 reptiles, 36 mammals and 150 butterfly species along with a few leopards. This is aside from several endangered species of animals and plants. Even the Atlas moth which is believed to be the largest moth in the world was discovered in this park. The Karvy or Karvi which to botanists is a type of flowering plant, blooms once every seven years. It is notably native here and through the surrounding regions of Sanjay Ghandi National Park. This also includes the Yeoor hills, Kamala, Tungareshwar and a few regions of Goregaons Film City.

Although tigers were never really spotted in this park, there were some droppings and pugmarks found through the park in 2003. This brought excitement to the residents as they thought that the last tiger was already shot down 80 years ago.

Species of flora found here include the teak, Kadamba, acacia, shisam, euphorbia, zizizphus, red silk cotton and flame of the forest. There are also some varieties of flowers. For its fauna population, the notated ones include the black napred hare, spotted deer, leopard, barking deer and the porcupine. There are also species of mouse deer, bounet macaque, rhesus macaque, Indian flying foz, Hanuman langur and the sambhar. Many even spotted some four-horned antelopes and hyenas here. For the family of reptiles, expect some pythons, crocodiles, monitor lizards, cobras, the Ceylonese cat snake and the Daboia Bamboo Pit Viper among others.

For the avian-fauna, there are golden orioles, jungle owlets, minivets, racket-tailed drongos, magpies and robins here along with hornbills, magpies, sunbirds, bulbuls, woodpeckers and the peacock. Local and migratory birds include the kingfisher, paradise flycatcher, drongos, mynas and the gulls, egrets, swifts and herons.

Sanjay Ghandi National Park Tourism

Only a small section of this park is actually open for public viewing. To view animals from afar, theyve created a mini zoo. Theres also a safari to guide and educate visitors about the natural habitats of animals in this park.

Theres also a toy train traveling through tourist zones that show sections of its rich biodiversity. Travelers should also visit the Kanheri Caves, especially in August. There are also nature treks and trains that can lead to the highest point of the city the Highest Point Trail, offering panoramic views of the beautiful city.

There are also lots of rock faces throughout the park, not only in the Kanheri Caves. Another facility to try is Borivalis boating facility inside the Krishnagiri recreation zone. As of November 2004, the entrance fee is Rs 98 lakh.

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