One cool autumn weekend, we decided we wanted to revisit Sanjay Gandhi National Park: the one real slice of wilderness on the borders of Mumbai’s concrete jungles, known commonly as Borivali National Park. Through this travel blog, you’ll get to know about the things to do at SGNP.

One doesn’t expect much from a forest reserve that lies adjacent to the country’s highly industrialised commercial capital but SGNP broke through our reservations with its large expanses of untouched nature, a stunning tiger sighting and the marvellously hewn Kanheri Caves. Find out about other things to do in this travel blog


It wasn’t our first visit here. Like every native of Mumbai, we had been here at least twice in our childhoods but our memories were vague, overlapping at points with Jijamata Udyan a.k.a. Byculla Zoo, situated in South Mumbai. So, the only place that evoked concrete remembrances was the Kanheri Cave complex. And even then, it came as a surprise that there were 109 different caves in the mountainside, awaiting our awed exploration.
Caves flanked by treacherous slopes

It was exhausting after a point to try and acquaint ourselves with every one of those 109 caves; so we skipped a few here and there. But our favourite clusters of caves were the ones beyond immediate reach, flanked by wilderness, fewer crowds and steep short-cuts in case you had little time to spare. We enjoyed peering at the sunlight streaming in through little holes in the walls and the way our voices ricocheted off the shadowy interiors of these bastions of time.

Narrow paths enveloped in silence and woods on either side greeted us as we drove by. Now and then, the muted shadows of the morning sunshine were invaded by a bunch of monkeys or goats, foraging for food and adventure. It was hard to believe that we were merely half an hour away from the sounds and odours of the city. And the deeper we ventured, the more natural it felt, to be a part of this jungle in our backyards.

Next, we proceeded to the lake and boating area, a favourite with families and children. But en route, we chanced upon a serene pond with a great bough arching across its olive expanse. And we had to sit by its banks.
An idyllic pink bridge had been constructed across the far end, making for a picture postcard sight.
There is also a garden adjacent to the boating area, where the statue of a tiger stands atop the garden name carved out of foliage, offeing some solace to those who didn’t see the real thing.

It was lunch time by then and we decided to head back to the concrete jungle we called home. If you plan a trip here, come as early as you can and be prepared to fork out a hefty fee for bringing vehicles inside. Other attractions include a toy train that passes over the deer park, a Jain temple and various walking trails. Also enquire about camping facilities if you fancy spending the night in the park.