Sanjay Gandhi National Park, better known as "Boriwali National Park" is set in hill ranges around the western suburb of Boriwali in Mumbai. Notified in 1974, it offers a pleasant change from the usual sights and attractions of the big city. It is hence common to see the park teeming with school picnics, college picnics and other organized excursions.

The undulating green lands of the Boriwali National Park are just the kind of surroundings to which one would love to retreat for some moments of quiet introspection or meditation. The great panoramic views of hills, valleys, lakes and open expanses can actually have a therapeutic effect on mind, body and soul. Rising from an elevation less than about 30m above mean sea level, the terrain park culminates in a series of peaks dispersed throughout the park- the highest, near the kanheri Caves, being 468m.

The Sanjay Gandhi National Park is unique because it can be visited all round the year. In the hot, dry summer months the jungle is a riot of colour as Goolmohar known as "The flame of the forest" and the flowering silk cotton give the otherwise harsh brown forest a crimson blush.

Boriwali in the rains has a charm of its own. The entire forest is a carpet of green and streams, swollen with rainwater tumble and meander down the slopes. The rains automatically draw trekkers, bird watchers and nature lovers of all ages to this verdant paradise. Visitors to Mumbai are rather surprised to see that there are 104-sq-km of virgin forest within its borders, just waiting to be explored. The recreational area of this park includes the Kanheri Caves, the Tulsi and Vihar Lakes, the Lion Safari, the Deer park, the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi and the gardens.

Krishnagiri Upavan: A pleasing area of approximately 5.5 sq-km has been reserved, as a recreational zone inside park, to cater to the educational and recreational needs of tourists. Among the several attractions of the Krishnagiri Upavan, the Lion Safari is the most famous. The 12-hectare Lion Safari park with crisscrossing roads offers tourists a face-to-face rendezvous with the king beast from within the safety of special buses. Another more recent attraction of the park is the new Tiger Safari spread over a 20-hectare area in the recreational zone. Here, you have the opportunity not just to see, but get a better understanding of the tiger species, including the white tiger.

Though there is a sustainable population of crocodiles as part of the park's aquatic world, it is very difficult to spot them. For easy sighting of these animals, there is a crocodile park where one can view these reptiles of different sizes all at one place.

Then of course, there's the Vanrani, the mini train, which is a favourite with young visitors. The fun train ride of about 15 minutes takes you along the foothills of the Gandhi Memorial, traverse a couple of bridges and tunnels and passes over the Deer park. Besides, one can also visit the Gandhi Smarak, indulge in some boating in the lotus filled lake, or enjoy the gardens and children's park.

How To Get There: Boriwali Station (WR) is the nearest railway station, connected to Churchgate and Mumbai CST (via Dadar). Road: The park is connected to all parts of Mumbai with very good road connections, as it is on the western express highway. BEST Buses ply on Sundays and holidays from Boriwali station (E) to the Park.

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