Sahyadrica

I’ve known the exact meaning of the word ‘wildlife’ since childhood. I’m not boasting myself. Who doesn’t know what wildlife stands for? But lately, I’ve been hearing a recent entry into the world of nature, the ‘urban wildlife’. This is a vast topic – as vast as the wildlife, and it is ever expanding as we encroach; and with its expansion, the real wildlife contracts. Think about it, and look into the backyard of your house – where ever you live and you will see for yourself, even when you’re inside your house, you’re not alone. But there’s a difference. You will see dogs and cats, sparrows and crows, spiders and bugs, lizards and worms – all around the place. Are they categorized as the ‘urban wildlife’? Perhaps not; but wild – they are and ever will be. Now move your house some where, where there is just you. What do you see? No sparrows or crows, no cats and dogs. You will see different birds, different mammals and different bugs. Slowly, the area is populated, many more like you

Kanheri Caves, 13th July'08 The Borivali National Park, officially known as the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, is a unique National Park in that it lies within borders of a city. The park lies on the northern fringes of suburban Mumbai , India . It encompasses an area of 104 square kilometres and is surrounded on three sides by the world's 5th most populous city. It is one of Asia 's most visited National Parks with 2 million annual visitors. The park is also holds claim to be the largest park in the world located within city limits. Within the Park, the ancient Kanheri Caves dating back 2,400 years were sculpted out of the rocky cliffs. The park has a rich flora and fauna. The park dates back to the 4th century BC . Sopara and Kalyan were two ports in the vicinity that traded with ancient lands such as Greece and Mesopotamia . The routes between these two ports cut through this forest. The Park was named Krishnagiri National Park in the pre-independence era. In

Karjat, at the Lake Karjat is an extended suburb of Mumbai. It is located on Bhor ghat , Sahyadri , Western Ghats as well as at the end of coastal plains of Konkan region near Deccan . It has an average elevation of 194 metres (636 feet). It lies on the banks of the River Ulhas . Many farm houses and residential colonies are situated here with all civil amenities and a municipal corporation. People from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Pune have their Second Home, Farm House or Weekend Home here and regularly celeberate festivals, new year parties, week-end bash here. It is also popular for pleasure visits during MONSOONs. Distance from Chembur to Karjat is 46 kilometers and from Sion it is 49 kilometers. Karjat has an advanced bio-tech institute which has been developing patented hybrid varieties of rice of international repute, apart from other crops and techniques. For more information, visit - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karjat I had gone to a friend’s farm house at