Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a green oasis amidst the concrete jungle of Mumbai. It is located on the northern part of the suburban Mumbai. It is one of the important tourist attractions of the city. This park is one of the most visited national parks in the country, which attracts about 2 million visitors annually. It is a unique national park in India, where panthers abound in greens and birds chirp, surrounded by a sprawling metropolis. It is located in Borivali due to which it was earlier called as Borivali National Park. The park is sprawled across an area of 104 sq km.

This park houses various species of animals, birds and exotic plants. A trip to this park is a treat for all the wildlife and nature lovers. The variety of birds found here are spellbinding. It is an ideal place for bird watching, and you will find many avid bird lovers here. Some of the birds found in the park are woodpecker, kingfisher, parakeet, Malabar whistling thrush, and sunbird. The beautiful peacocks will surely capture your hearts with their lovely colours. The park has about 251 varieties of feathered species.

The Sanjay Gandhi National Park boasts of many varied animals and reptiles. These include the spotted deer, wild boar, barking deer, civet cat, hares, panthers, antelopes, leopards and langurs. In addition to this, the reptile world includes giant and deadly snakes like the cobra, monitor lizards, pythons, vipers and crocodiles. The Tulsi Lake houses a number of crocodiles, which sometimes scare the wits out of the tourists, at the same time flushing their hearts with excitement. Crocodile Park is also a right place to look at these creepy and sleepy creatures. About 150 species of butterflies lend colour of exuberance to this world of fauna.

Obviously the park also has an extensive forest cover. These forests are of two types, the south India deciduous and the semi-evergreen forests. The treasure-trove of trees found here includes teak, shisam and kadamba. There are also many pretty flowers hounding the forests which include the stunning flame of the forest and the red silk cotton. The flowers splash colours through the environment, thereby endowing the wild, serene ambience with a festive look of sorts. Large thickets of bamboo are also found among the rare flora.

However the visitors can access only a part of the park. They are prohibited from touring the rest of the area. A variety of activities are lined up for the visitors in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Krishnagiri Upavan, an area of approximately 5.5 sq km inside the park, has been earmarked as the recreational zone. It caters to the tourists’ educational and recreational needs. Lion Safari Park is the chief attraction of this recreational zone, where you can have a wild date with the king of the jungle. The Vanrani or the Jungle Queen is a toy train that runs through this recreational zone. This toy train is an added attraction for the children visiting the park. They simply love the ride on this train. Not only children, but even the elders look forward to this joy ride. The train takes you through the park and acquaints you with the surroundings.

The Kanheri Caves in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park are also an interesting tourist option. This protected archaeological site dating back to the 1st Century BC resonates with Buddhist heritage, which the tourists must explore. These 109 Buddhist caves can give you some glimpses into India’s Buddhist past. The areas around the Kanheri Caves are also ideal for trekking. You will find many trekking enthusiasts honing their trekking skills here. Nature trails here are also very exciting which give a great chance for exploration and many people take part in these wholeheartedly.

The park is easily accessible from all the areas of the city and it also provides facilities for accommodation. The park is only 16 km away from the Santa Cruz airport and is within reach by road and rail. You can also reserve one of the camp sheds or the rest house on phone for a convenient stay at the park itself.