Nature Trail to Silonda in SGNP on 1st Sept 2012

Nisarga Bhraman would like to invite all nature loving & like minded people on Saturday, 1st September 2012 for a Nature Trail to Silonda in Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

About SGNP: Sanjay Gandhi National Park, also know as Borivali National Park encompasses an area of around 104 sq kms. The park is located in the northern suburbs and is famous for rich flora and fauna.

This park has approximately 500 types of flowering plants, 300 species of birds, 30 species of mammals, 125 species of butterflies. It is also famous for the flowering plant named as "Karvi" which blooms every 8 years. The park is also famous for the wild cat namely the leopard. Today the park has approx 25 leopards.

About the Silonda Trail: Silonda is a restricted area of the forest. One needs to take a proper permission from the forest department before entering in it. It is a stretch of 3.5 kms (single way) for nature trail. During monsoon the road is muddy. One can trace the different color crabs & spiders in monsoon. One can also notice the Pagoda ants nest on the trees. In this area one can find different types of medicinal herbs, insects, butterflies, caterpillars, different species of birds like Racket tailed Drongo, Red whiskered Bulbul, Barbet etc. We will have a guided walk till the 2nd stream of water.

Saturday, 1st September 2012:

• Meet at Sanjay Gandhi National Park- Main Gate, Borivali at 7:15 am
• Breakfast, Registration and Introduction Session (~0.5Hrs)
• Walk from Main Gate to Silonda Trail Entrance (~0.5Hrs)
• Guided walk on the trail to Silonda (~3.0Hrs)
• Informative session about the forest (~0.5 Hrs)
• Back to Main Gate (~0.5Hrs)

We will be back to main gate by 1:00 pm approx.

The cost of the event would be Rs. 250/- for Members and Rs. 275/- for others. 

The above mentioned cost includes -
> Event Charges of SGNP
> Morning Breakfast
> Entry charges to SGNP
> All expertise and Guide charges

Call and confirm your registration with our team on contacts given below -

Hemant Naik: 9819786136
Sameer Patel: 9820972043 

Here is a list of the things to be carried by every individual -

> A haversack to put in all the stuffs.
> At least 2 Liters of water. (Compulsory)
> Binoculars, Camera, Something to munch on (Optional)
> Personal medicines if required

Few rules that we would like people to follow:

1. Smoking and possession and/or consumption of Alcohol will strictly not be permitted on the event & would lead to expulsion from the trek.

2. Do not play loud music / shout in the jungle premises. That disturbs animals and reduce sighting chances.
3. The leader’s decision will be final and binding on all members. No Arguments will be entertained.
4. Each member will be responsible for his/her own safety and baggage.
5. Please do not wear any jewelry or gold chains/rings.
6. Please do not litter, we believe in the saying, “Wherever you go, leave only your footprints and take back only memories”

Guided Walk to the Highest Point Trail on 25th Aug 2012

In the city of overwhelming contrast, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) is a green oasis encircled by a wholly man-made landscapes. The park embraces a wide range of habitats - dry, cactus strewn rocky plateaus, miles of mix deciduous forest, pockets of semi-evergreen vegetation, the two sprawling reservoirs of Tulsi and Vihar, a mix of marshland and scrub and a mangrove creek.
It is hardly surprising that the region has a wealth of biodiversity. Rewarding nature walks can be enjoyed here. There are more than 800 species of flowering plants. Nearly 300 species of birds are the park's chief attraction.
1st October to 7th October is celebrated as a World Environment Week.

Join Nisarga Bhraman to the guided walk and hike to the 'Highest Point Trail' in core areas of SGNP on 25th August 2012.
About the trail:
The trail to Jambhulmaal, the highest point (846 Mtrs) in the park, winds through dense deciduous forest. The name Jambhulmaal is believed to be derived from the presence of the evergreen jambhul (marathi name for Jamun or Black Plum).  A trail is roughly 2.5kms from the gate of Kanheri Caves.
A range of woodland birds is sighted on this trail. In the monsoon Jambhulmaal is carpeted with lush herbage. The tall karvi is the park's most abundant shrub whose purple flowers appear once every eight years. A few ground orchids bloom between late August and September, one of very few sites for these rather peculiar flowers.
At the mountain top, as raptors soar and dip, a panoramic view of the forested Tulsi Valley and Tulsi and Vihar Lakes greets the eye. The shimmering Powai Lake and sprawling suburbs are seen in the distance.

The itinerary for the event is as given below:

Saturday 25th August 2012:

• Meet at Sanjay Gandhi National Park- Main Gate, Borivali at 7:15am
• Breakfast, Registration and Introduction Session (~0.5Hrs)
• Travel towards Kanheri Caves (~0.25Hrs)
• Guided walk and Hike on the trail to Jambhulmaal (~2Hrs)
• Halt for Lunch (~0.5 Hrs)
• Informative session about the forest (~0.5 Hrs)
• Descend back to Kanheri Caves (~1.5Hrs)
• Visit to 1st BC era Buddhist Caves if time permits 
• Travel back to Main Gate.

The cost of the event would be Rs. 375/- for Members and Rs. 400/- for others. 

The above mentioned cost includes -
> Event Charges of SGNP
> Morning Breakfast
> Entry charges to SGNP and Kanheri
> Travel from SGNP gate to Kanheri and back
> All expertise and Guide charges

Call and confirm your registration with our team on contacts given below -

Hemant Naik: 9819786136
Sameer Patel: 9820972043

Here is a list of the things to be carried by every individual - 

> A haversack to put in all the stuffs.
> Lunch for the day, at least 2 Liters of water. (Compulsory)
> Binoculars, Camera, Something to munch on (Optional)
> Personal medicines if required

Few rules that we would like people to follow:

1. Smoking and possession and/or consumption of Alcohol will strictly not be permitted on the event & would lead to expulsion from the trek.2. Do not play loud music / shout in the jungle premises. That disturbs animals and reduce sighting chances.
3. The leader’s decision will be final and binding on all members. No Arguments will be entertained.
4. Each member will be responsible for his/her own safety and baggage.
5. Please do not wear any jewelry or gold chains/rings.
6. Please do not litter, we believe in the saying, “Wherever you go, leave only your footprints and take back only memories”