A Visit to Shilonda Trail In Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai

On Sundays, it is difficult to coax us from our beds. In fact, the task is practically impossible if it is 5 a.m. on a Sunday that holds a promise of rains. However, The BNHS Nature Walk's Shilonda trail, hosted in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), was an exception. We arrived at SGNP's main entrance at precisely 7 a.m. and found the park bustling with joggers, walkers, cyclists, and families out for a day in the great outdoors. While we awaited the arrival of our fellow trekkers, we took in the picturesque paths that led to unexplored trails.

The unpaved path of Shilonda Trail in SGNP

Apart from Shilonda, you can also visit Nagla, Malad, and the highest point Gaimukh if you are looking to enjoy more natural experience. Moreover, to arrive at our starting point, we took a short bus ride and waited for our nature guide to give us the necessary instructions.

The Short Bus Ride for Shilonda Trail, SGNP

We set out on the trail around 8 a.m. In fact, taking a guided tour is the best option because it allows you to see parts of the park that are otherwise off-limits to visitors without the involvement of Forest Officials. Enjoy glimpses of a wide variety of flora & fauna on this trail that covers roughly 1.5 kms- 2 kms.

Shilonda trail offers views of a diverse range of flora and fauna. Moreover, The trail leads to the park's main hill ridge, which runs north-south. Also, it is great for bird watching and is a short easy walk that can be enjoyed by patrons of all age groups. 

The Variety of Flora & Fauna At Shilonda Trail, SGNP

Keep a lookout as there may also be a few leopard pugmarks in the soil or claw marks on the tree. The signboards placed at intervals provide information about the various life forms found on this trail.

During the monsoon season, the entire trail is lush green and showcases nature at its finest. We saw bamboo, orchid, Siam weed, wild turmeric, a different variety of grape plant, mushrooms, as well as spiders, crabs, and an ant hill.

The Ant Hill at SGNP

Also, a small river that crosses the trail is a great place to stop and rest. The water is fresh and cool, and we all rested here to enjoy nature at its finest. All of this within the confines of Mumbai, unbelievable!!

Small river on the Shilonda Trail, SGNP

Rejuvenated after a break from the daily grind, we made our way back to the National Park's main entrance at around 11 am. We came across a number of street vendors selling fresh corn, sweet tamarind, boiled peanuts, and other local delicacies as we made our way. Definitely, a wonderful way to spend a Sunday!