Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a protected national park within the metropolitan area of Mumbai, Maharashtra, covering roughly 104 square kilometres and preserving dry deciduous forest, scrub and rocky outcrops. It is notable for being a large protected green area inside a major city and as the setting for the Kanheri rock-cut caves.

The park is used for hiking, nature walks, guided tours and picnic areas, and it supports a range of wildlife including deer, birds and occasional sightings of leopards. Kanheri Caves attract visitors for their archaeological and historic interest as well as for easy access to trails.

The protected area was established in the later 20th century as a municipal and then national protected area under successive conservation measures. It functions both as an ecological preserve and a recreational resource for Mumbai’s population.

The park lies across the northern suburbs of Mumbai, with principal access from Borivali and adjacent neighbourhoods; its southern edge sits within the city’s northern suburban band, roughly 15-25 kilometres from south Mumbai depending on the route.

• Size: The park covers roughly 104 square kilometres and is one of the few national parks located within a major metropolitan area.
• Recreation and wildlife: The park contains extensive walking and hiking trails and is a popular weekend destination from Mumbai's northern suburbs; parts of the park are known habitat for leopard sightings.

What to See #

• Kanheri Caves: A large group of rock-cut Buddhist caves and monasteries carved into basalt, numbering roughly 100-110 individual caves that include chaitya halls, viharas and carved reliefs dating from the early centuries CE through the first millennium.