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Nature Park
But that is exactly what it was less than 20 years ago. Located on Bandra-
Sion Link Road and on the Southern bank of Mithi River (which starts from
Borivali National Park highlands skirting the airport and meets the Arabian
Sea at Mahim Bay and which is one of the major drainages of Mumbai) this
mini-forest is nothing short of a miracle
The brick paths of Maharashtra Nature Park lead visitors to a forest-like
setting that boasts of about 76 varieties of butterflies, more than 125 species
of birds, and as many as 14,000 plants of 300 varieties, including at least 100
kinds of woody trees and a wealth of herbs and shrubs.
The park has three gates. From the west to the east, the first gate opens to the
nursery; the second gate is the main entrance to the park, and the third gate
leads to an unused part of the park.
Apart from these, Maharashtra Nature Park is a natural habitat for a wide
range of insects, spiders, reptiles and amphibians. Here, one feels the pulse
of nature, despite the stench from the Mithi River, which runs along the
Park's northern border.
The once Mahim nature park full of garbage is now a green park with about
thousands of trees
The Nature trail of The Park
The eye opening location of this park being on other side of road is the
dharavi slums and just opposite is this green heaven with a different
climate and temperature you can feel, that’s the beauty of mother earth. It
will take about 2 to 3 hours completely to check every plant, bird, insects
and those reptiles inside this green woodland.
The Shanti Path begins at the main gate and traces the edge of the
reservoir to the northern periphery until it reaches the Mithi River. Here
through the arching branches of the forest, one experiences the
juxtaposition of two jungles: first the lush mangrove forest in the Mithi
River Estuary
The nature park needs about 10 million litres of water every year, the
bulk of which is used for irrigation and other non-potable purposes. To
reduce its dependence on municipal water supply, Maharashtra Nature
Park sought to construct a reservoir, which would be fed by rainwater.
The nursery can be accessed directly from the nursery gate, thus
bypassing the time-consuming entry process required to access the rest of
the park.
There is a botanical garden which has 800 species of plant, 125 species of
Birds, 1000 species of butterfly and 9 species of snakes.
THE BIODIVERSITY OF MAHARASTRA NATURE
PARK
MNP offers a wide range of habitats from a wooded forest to an estuary
and a fresh water lake attracting numerous species of insects, butterflies,
birds, reptiles and amphibians.
The lake inside Mahim Nature park attracts species of water birds and
reptiles too, major species that can be seen here is Russell’s viper, Rat
snake, Indian cobra . The dangerous cobra and the green vine snake
along the lake corners quite natural since there are varieties of frogs and
insects like Chameleon, Northern house Gecko and Garden Lizards too.
Water birds like Greater spotted eagle, Ring Necked parakeets, Asian
Pied Starling, mahratta Woodpeckers and Barn owl are some of them
seen in nature park.
Russell’s Viper
rat snake
Jewel bugs are mainly found in this park as they are tiny bugs and live for
long years it helps decomposition of waste materials in the nature park.
Green Butterflies are commonly found in this park as they are known as
amegreen butterflies, there is also most common species of butterfly
found in the park know as Mormon Butterfly which is black coloured
THE TREES AND PLANTS OF NATURE PARK
There is Mogly plant which has the unique features of 4 leaves design in
the leaf of the plant, we found papaya plant which gives caster oil and
helps the nature to keep surrounding cool and pleasant.
There is also tree known as paniphuti which is also a type of medicine for
kidney stone and also used in Ayurveda treatment, also a plant name
cantana kamera which is the nectar plant of butterfly know as home of
butterfly.
Another plant name olden limer which likes pepper plant it is used for
adulteration of plants, also there is a plant name samosa plant which has a
different feature of smooth surface on the leaves of plant. Also there is a
plant of jungle Chikku that is Not so sweet which is used By Adivasi and
it helps in making our immunity system better.
There is a plant Name as Khus plant which has long grass type leaves it
makes the environment cool, Peri winkle known as pink plant is very
beautiful and also makes the environment cool. There is also Bringraj
plant which helps in hairgrowth and other medical purpose also.
There is purple plant Flower known as Neuscuses which also have same
colour yellow white and purple resemble the lord Shiva and lord
Hanuman ji. Mogli plant are also found in this park ad also Pan futi
which is the most beautiful and has good amount of fragrance in the
leaves is also found in the nature park
There are many Brahmi plant which is used as medicine for hair growth
and other ayurvedic purpose. Unani which is Islamic type of Ayurveda
helps to settle and heal the bones of the body.
There is also lanta camara a unique species of plant also known as big-
sage, wild-sage, and tickberry, is a species of flowering plant within the
verbena family. Mili pili is a kind of insect which consumes Lanta
camara and makes the plant poisonous.
Papdi plant know as Lablab is use as old domesticated pulse and multi-
purpose crop, the flowers can be eaten raw or steamed. The root can be
boiled or baked for food the seeds are used to make tofu and tempeh, the
dry preparations with green masala is often made out of these green
beans.
In This Nature park, one can have found Sary Plant which is use as
medical purpose and used as Ayurvedic purpose also. The tridex plant
known as dagdi plant is a type Bani and used for medicines also.
Charges and Timinng - Best time for any birdwatcher to visit this park
is between October and March. MNP is open in weekdays between 9:30 am to 6
pm and the entry fees is Rs.5/- per head. If you are planning to visit on Sundays
or any national holidays you need to take prior permission and intimate them
first).
Recommended to get a Guide along for a better deeper knowledge.