Mumbai (Bombay), Maharashtra, India
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
After a gap of about 4 months we decided to walk along the Silondha Trail. Reached the entry point at 8am, still pleasantly cool. This is an undulating trail of about 5 km upto the check dam, crossing 2 [dry] riverbeds en route. Most of it is deciduous forest with several patches of bamboo, and evergreen pongamia glabra trees along the riverbanks. Semi ripe fruiting Karwanda shrubs [carissa karaunda] are omnipresent along with several dried up bushes of last years acanthacea annuals. The forest resounded with birdsong, but not surprisingly they were hard to spot as most of the birds seemed to prefer the shade of the foliage even at 8am. The deer and other mammals would naturally have been on the lake side, the core area of the SGNP. All the streams were bone dry along the Silondha trail, with barely a spot of dampness near the checkdam where some butterflies - yellow and blue pansies and small orange tips were flitting around. Even so, a troop of macaques came along eventually to say hello
. The large spotted swordtail butterflies were abundant, seemingly the only creatures not deterred by the summer heat. A delicate stalk of pastel violet wildflowers - appeared to be commelinacea family, valiantly sprouted out of a patch of semi arid ground near the river bank. It took about 2 hours of leisurely sauntering to reach the dried up check dam, this part of the forest is very deciduous and we could now feel the heat. It helped that we forgot to bring along our sun hats ! Decided not to proceed further due to the heat. The trail, I am told, leads to somewhere near the Kanheri caves. On our way back we suddenly came across a cassia fistula [Indian laburnum] in full bloom. A sight indeed for sore eyes. The rest of the way saw more butterflies flitting here and there non stop, their batteries fully charged in the mid morning sun. Few would pose for photographs. After exiting the trail, we proceeded further along the Kanheri caves road and had our lunch in the shade of a culvert along the way, then left for home and a lazy afternoon nap.
Logistics:
Getting there: Best by own vehicle. Nearest railhead: Borivili East on WR, then auto to park main gate on WE highway. Ask directions at the ticket counter. The Silondha trail commences off the road, shortly after the old Mafco gate.
What else to see? The Kanheri caves , other trails such as the Yeoor trail,
Malad trail etc. Some require permission. Enquire at ticket counter. Lion / tiger safari also available - more for kids, will not satisfy the serious nature lover.
Note: No food available inside the park, so pack your own and please do not litter.
Comments
Silonda
I went on the Silonda trail in September. It is quiet nice in the monsoon. The river was also flowing.
It is nice to have the national park within our city.
Silondha trail
Yes Inadar, it is lovely in the monsoons when both rivers are flowing. Personally I think the best time is between September and early Nov. when the wildflowers are in profusion with their attendant butterflies and insects. Earlier we used to go very often, but nowadays the traffic is so bad that we think ten times before going there.
Re: Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your comment. I love seeing the night sky too, especially in rural areas where there is no light pollution and the Milky Way is clearly visible.
Yes I have seen leopards on two occasions at SGNP but not on the Silondha trail. Once we saw a leopard family from afar [120m] in the valley of the Tulsi dam and once I saw from quite close [less than 40m], the rear portion of a large leopard as he walked away with his prey - a hapless monkey! Both times in warm, dry weather.