Sanjay Gandhi National Park, National park in Mumbai, India
Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a protected forest reserve on the northern edge of Mumbai, with hills and dense tropical greenery. Trails run through different zones, while two lakes cross the reserve and provide drinking water to the city.
The area served from 1942 as a private hunting reserve for the elite, before being declared a protected national park in the late eighties. The official name followed shortly after, to honor Sanjay Gandhi, son of the former prime minister.
The Kanheri Caves within the park feature 109 Buddhist sculptures and meditation halls carved into basalt rock between the 1st and 9th centuries BCE.
Guided tours start daily from morning until late afternoon, with walking routes clearly marked and suitable for different fitness levels. Boat rides on Vihar Lake offer a calm perspective of the park, especially pleasant in the morning hours before the heat builds up.
Leopards live here in unusually high numbers right next to residential neighborhoods, with the reserve holding the highest leopard density among all city parks worldwide. Encounters remain rare, as the animals hunt at night and stay hidden in the thickets during daylight.
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