In the middle of concrete jungle there is a surprising covered jungle of 104 sq km where abundance flora and fauna can flummox anybody. Urban development and shantytowns are growing large on the edge of this fantastic national park but ironically the urban clamor is miles far away from this calm and serene refuge of countless wildlife.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which is also known as “ Borivali National Park” is located in hill ranges around of suburbs of Mumbai. An amazing change from the usual clamor and bustling crowd of Mumbai. Here, sparkling flora, birds, butterflies and elusive wild leopards replace traffic and crowds, all surrounded by forested hills on the city’s northern edge. Often the park is teemed with school picnics and other organized excursions. The flora in the park can be divided into parts: south Indian moist deciduous and semi Evergreen. Though the park is always crowded with people still its absolute delight for bird watchers. Notable avian population are jungle owlets, golden orioles, racket tailed drongos, minivets, magpies, robins, hornbills, bulbills, bulbuls, sunbirds, peacock and woodpeckers.

Among wild animals, the park is filled up with countless species of animals such as spotted deer, barking deer, porcupine, palm civet, langur, Indian flying fox, sambhar and not to forget Asiatic lions and royal Bengal tigers. The park is also rich in reptile species. One can easily spot crocodiles in the Tulsi lake. Apart from that python, cobras, monitor lizards, Russell’s viper and other variety of snakes.

Sights And Activities

Lion And Tiger Safari
The main attraction of the park is to venture into the deep section of the park in a netted bus called lion and tiger safari. The bus takes you to different remote places of the jungle till you see the most coveted animals of the park. it departs from the tiger orientation center travel through two separate areas of the park housing the tigers and lions.

Kanheri Caves
Poor man’s Ajanta Caves”, is another big attraction of the park lining 5km to the side of rocky ravine from the northern park entrance. Buddhist monks used to take shelter between the 2nd and 9th centuries. They used this caves as their monasteries and temples.

Train Ride
This is opened in the park recently. You can track different part of the jungle in a small toy train. Its more of a picnic ride rather than a serious wildlife watching.

Information Centre
Inside the main northern entrance is an Information Centre with a small exhibition on the park’s wildlife. The best time to visit is October to April.

Wild Walk To Tribal
If you are enough courageous than walk to the tribal villages inside the park. You will get a good insight of the tribal lifestyle.