Spectacular Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Sanjay Gandhi National Park is located in a suburbanseen all over the surroundings as well as on other
part of Mumbai, India. Its area is 104 sq. kilometers,regions.
making it the largest park in the world within the cityThere is also a variety of mammals and reptiles in this
limits. It is surrounded by cities on the sides and it has apark. In fact, people are so amused by its small
perfect forest cover suitable for wildlife. They alsopopulation of leopards. Another interesting feature is a
have a mini zoo at the park that attracts manycave sculpted by Buddhist residents referred to as the
tourists.Kanheri Caves. Near the caves, there are different
Brief History of Sanjay Gandhi National Parktypes of monkeys like the Hanuman Langur and the
Sanjay Gandhi National Park was named after the sonRhesus Macaque. These are renowned as “old
of Indira Gandhi who died on a plane crash. Sheworld” of its species. It is native to this country and
served as Prime Minister of India on three consecutiveis popular for its unique pink face. The Bonnet
terms, from the years 1966 to 1977. She is also theMacaque is also an old world monkey found in this
first female to hold this highest post.forest. It is somewhat related to the Rhesus Macaque,
Way back the 4th century BC, this area served as abut it is less dominant.
port of two ancient lands namely Greece andA type of deer considered one of the oldest types
Mesopotamia. It was better known as Krishnagiri(approximately 20-35 million years ago) can also be
National Park in 1969, the time of the pre-independencefound here. It is the Muntjac. The Chital or otherwise
era. After several years, this area was created andknown as the spotted deer or axis deer is also
developed by the Indian Services Department andcommon along this wooded Indian forest. Another type
was named Sanjay Gandhi National Park.that belongs to the family of Tragulidae is the
Biodiversity in Sanjay Gandhi National ParkChevrotain or the mouse deer. These creatures are
This park is known for its rich forest and excitingonly found on some tropical forests like that of Sanjay
wildlife. There are 800 types of flowering plantsGandhi National Park.
because of the many types of insects found here.Travel Information for Sanjay Gandhi National Park
The forest also has 150 species of butterflies thatLocated along the famous Sanjay Gandhi National
freely roam around the forest.Park are some of the best hotel accommodations.
The atlas moth is known as the largest moth in theInside the park, they offer a safari ride that can take
world. This park is now under the protection of theiryou in close range to the leopards and lions. This
department, especially because of the large number ofusually lasts for about 20 minutes, from nine in the
endangered species. A type of flowering plantmorning to twelve noon, and two to five in the
considered endangered is the Karvi. This is uniqueafternoon. It is all surrounded by forest so expect a
because it only blooms once in every seven years.jaunting wind breeze most of the time.
Now, this plant is successfully protected and it can be