Mahim Nature Park :
Situated near Dharavi, Asia's largest slum, Mahim Nature Park comes across as a breath of fresh air. This educational park was the brainchild of Shanta Chatterji, a busy corporate lawyer and the chairperson of World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Mahim Creek is the place where bird and marine life thrives in its creeks and estuaries. Mangroves hold sway over large tracts of saline marsh sheltering wide range of life holding the soil together. Spread over an area of 450 acres, the Mahim Nature Park has been set up to preserve the natural beauty and estuarine ecosystem of the region.
Karnala Bird Sanctuary :
Close to Mumbai, Karnala is the highpoint for an amazing weekend. Karnala is also a birdwatcher's paradise and MTDC has rent-a-tent facilities so you can bird watch at leisure. Spot sunbirds, drongoes, orioles, babblers and the occasional male paradise flycatcher with its unusual silvery-white tail and colourful local bird species can all be sighted. The best time is between November and February. The sanctuary is also home to troops of monkeys and herds of deer. You might also get a glimpse of a panther if you are lucky!
Within the park area there is a commanding fort, which was originally used by the Marathas for its strategic location. It offers a spectacular view of the countryside for miles around.
Melghat Tiger Reserve :
In the enchanting southern range of the Satpuras nestling in the tehsil of Amravati district is Melghat Tiger Reserve. Amidst teak and bamboo groves you will find the protected tiger roaming around freely. Also on the way you will see - sloth bear, hyena, wild dog, gaur, sambar, nilgai, barking deer, four-horned antelope and wild boar. And as for bird lovers, there are about 113 species. In addition, the spectacular variety of plant life here lures the nature lovers from all over. And, yes you can enjoy all this on an exciting Vidharba jungle safari organised by MTDC, which takes you through Navegaon, Nagzira and Ramtak.
Borivili Widlife Park :
Spread in a small area of 104 sq km, the Borivili National Park offers a pleasant change from the humdrum life of the metropolis. This virgin forest area is an ideal hangout for the picnickers, nature, bird and wildlife lovers. Borivili is a park for all seasons. In summer the forest is enfolded in a riot of colors - gulmohur, flame- of the forest and flowering silk cotton trees engulf the whole area and during the monsoons the forest is a verdant paradise - a carpet of green with streams tumbling over boulder-strewn water courses.
With the mini train, winding through the recreational area of the park, a lion safari park, a deer park and gardens, picturesque route, the park is the perfect place for picnics and there is a special picnic area with stalls selling the famous bhel-puri and pani-puri that Bombay is well known for. There is one lotus-studded lake on the Dahisar River where you can enjoy boating.
Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary :
Sprawling in an area of just 100 sq km, Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary with leopards, sambars, barking deers, wild boars, Hanuman langurs and Rhesus macaques wandering freely amidst the rich variety of flora is a nature lover's paradise. Jyotivanti trees, which glow in the dark during monsoon, add to the charm of the mist laden chilly atmosphere.
The park has numerous attractions within it confine. An important pilgrimage center, Bhimashankar is a beautiful black rock structure built in the Nagara style of architecture, the temple dates back to the mid 18th century. A small path behind this temple leads to a natural Shivlinga in the riverbed, a short distance down stream, only visible when the water level is low. Besides the temple, the two picturesque lakes, Kamalja Devi and Hanuman and the highest point, Nagphani make up the sites of tourist interest. Shaped as the hood of the snake, a short climb from the temple it offers an amazing panoramic view. Tungi Padar and Peth forts just below and the Matheran Range is visible in the distance. While thousands gather in this temple during Mahashivratri and Tripuri Purnima, Bhimashankar with its charming views and dense forest cover has always lured tourists and trekkers. |
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