Monday 25 September 2017
Karnala Bird Sanctuary is the most easily accessible oasis for nature lovers of Mumbai
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| Karnala Bird Sanctuary |
We, the city dwellers, often travel great distances to find
that perfect spot of peace and tranquility but we often overlook what’s right
in front of us. For the people of Mumbai, the giant skyscrapers and densely-populated streets makes one want to travel to other states and countries in
search of fresh air while forgetting the abundance of natural wealth that we
have around us. One such forgotten gem is the Karnala Bird Sanctuary.
Karnala is situated 60-80 km from Mumbai depending on where
you live in the city; if you live in Navi Mumbai, it’s even closer. Earlier
this year, we had a fantastic one-day excursion to the Karnala Bird Sanctuary.
We started the trip by 6.30 am and despite a leisurely breakfast
stop on the way; we reached the place by 9 am. In fact, if you’re carrying your
own food or don't bother to stop on the way, you can easily reach the place by 8 am.
There’s a ₹35 entry fee and professional cameras are charged
₹100 while mobile cameras are free. And while it may sound like a joke, while I
was there, I had seen Nat Geo photographers setting up their cameras on a
tripod and waiting for that perfect shot of the birds. Yes, this place is that
good! There’s also a designated parking area where you can park your two or
four wheeler by paying ₹25 and ₹50. The
parking area is right next to the entry gate and it’s advisable to park here
instead parking on the tiny two-lane highway and blocking the way just to save
some money. Yes, I’ve seen people doing it. Also, once you reach there, you’ll
realize that the entry of the bird sanctuary is on blind left turn and if you
park your vehicle anywhere outside, it’s not just an inconvenience but also a
hazard for the oncoming traffic.
Karnala is the perfect picnic destination for people of all
ages. As you start walking from the main gate, on your see you’ll find slides,
swings and other stuff you’re likely find in any garden to keep your kids
excited. About three hundred meters up the hill is the base which is the
starting point for a number of trails including the famous Karnala Fort trail.
All the trails are nicely marked even amateurs can hike up on their own. At the
base, there’s also a tiny canteen and you can fuel up before or after the trek.
On negative part over here are a number of cages which houses birds. Why you
cage up birds at a bird sanctuary? Really defeats the entire purpose of having
a sanctuary. If someone’s lazy enough to not explore the sanctuary, it’s their
loss. Caging up various species of birds so that people can identify them is
cruel, in my opinion.
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| Take a hike |
Take on any of the marked trails and go crazy exploring the
entire place. The sign boards with birds’ names and photos that are
found in that part of the sanctuary is a real boon for the regular folks who’re
not pros are recognizing these exotic birds. Just be careful of the monkey. While
walking through the territories dominated by monkeys, make minimal movement and
noise; we (two of us) were largely outnumbered by these angry monkeys and their
body language suggested that we weren’t invited in their territory. Though it
was only a 100mt stretch where we were surrounded by ferocious monkeys, it took
all of our courage to walk out of it without flinching or running back. But
apart from it, we had a memorable time spotting all the beautiful birds and
sitting by the stream just breathing in the fresh air and chilling in the lap
of the nature.
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| Kingfisher! No, it's not the one you're used to seeing at your local joint. |
For less than ₹500 including fuel, you can have an exciting
day for the whole family.
Do’s: Carry a powerful binocular. If you have a telescopic lens with your DSLR, definitely bring it, worth it. And carry at least 1.5-2 ltr of water per person if you’re going to climb all the way to the top.
Don’ts: Park on the highway or feed the monkeys. And no
matter what happens, DO NOT LITTER! If you can carry a pack of chips up to the
fort, you can bring an empty pack down as well.
Secret tip: Try to
start as early in the morning as possible. By 11am, you will see a lot of
noisy, family crowd; or worse, school picnic and it’ll ruin your entire trip.
Also read about this place every a motorcycle is worshiped.
Also read about this place every a motorcycle is worshiped.
