Mumbai Attractions
Sanjay Gandhi National Park
While simply looking at the crowded metropolis of Mumbai, one would not expect to see any signs of forest and animals. However, located right on the northernmost outskirts of Mumbai lays a massive protected area; this area is better known as Sanjay Gandhi National Park. There are very few national parks located within such a large, populous city; however, somehow this national park manages to pull in well over two million visitors each and every year. Not only does Sanjay Gandhi National Park attract a vast number of visitors a year, it is also a large urban park; in fact, one of the largest in the world.
While the park is located in Mumbai, more specifically, it is located in Borivali. Nothing about Sanjay Gandhi National Park is flat in geography, with the landscape fluctuating from somewhere around 30 meters, and 500 meters in height. Borivali, and Mumbai as a whole, receives a lot of its water from the two pristine lakes that reside within the national park; Tulsi and Vihar Lake. Rough and rigorous cliffs also find home within the park, but more interesting, is what nestles on the side of some of these cliff sides; the Kanheri Caves which are well over 2,000 years old.
Aside from the immense geological features that are to be found in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, are the broad spectrums of flora, as well as fauna that call the park home. To actually go through and name every living thing that resides in this park, would take ages. However, to give a perspective, there are more than 30 different mammals, more than 60 different reptiles, around 250 types of birds, close to 1,000 types of plant life, and thousands upon thousands of insects.
Wild animals like Bonnet Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Leopard, Spotted Dear, Indian Flying Fox, Barking Deer, Indian Hare, and Asian Pam Civet can be seen inside the park. Reptiles living here include cobras, monitor lizards, pythons, Bamboo Pit Viper, Russell's Vipers, and crocodiles.
Some birds one can see flying around the park include woodpeckers, magpies, bulbuls, sunbrids, hornbills, peacocks, jungle owlets, and golden orioles.
One thing is for sure, a trip to Mumbai cannot be complete without a trip to Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
While the park is located in Mumbai, more specifically, it is located in Borivali. Nothing about Sanjay Gandhi National Park is flat in geography, with the landscape fluctuating from somewhere around 30 meters, and 500 meters in height. Borivali, and Mumbai as a whole, receives a lot of its water from the two pristine lakes that reside within the national park; Tulsi and Vihar Lake. Rough and rigorous cliffs also find home within the park, but more interesting, is what nestles on the side of some of these cliff sides; the Kanheri Caves which are well over 2,000 years old.
Aside from the immense geological features that are to be found in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, are the broad spectrums of flora, as well as fauna that call the park home. To actually go through and name every living thing that resides in this park, would take ages. However, to give a perspective, there are more than 30 different mammals, more than 60 different reptiles, around 250 types of birds, close to 1,000 types of plant life, and thousands upon thousands of insects.
Wild animals like Bonnet Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Leopard, Spotted Dear, Indian Flying Fox, Barking Deer, Indian Hare, and Asian Pam Civet can be seen inside the park. Reptiles living here include cobras, monitor lizards, pythons, Bamboo Pit Viper, Russell's Vipers, and crocodiles.
Some birds one can see flying around the park include woodpeckers, magpies, bulbuls, sunbrids, hornbills, peacocks, jungle owlets, and golden orioles.
One thing is for sure, a trip to Mumbai cannot be complete without a trip to Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
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