Mahim Nature Park In Mumbai

Mahim Nature Park developed which today stands testimony to the 12 long years of hard work put in by her and her team. The park was opened for school children in 1992. Two years later they began allowing general public to visit the park.

The Mahim Nature Park in Mumbai is located near Asia's largest slum Dharavi. The honour of establishing this nature park went to Shanta Chatterji, who is a lawyer by profession and even the Chairperson of World Wildlife Fund. It was initially opened as an educational park that was later opened for the benefit of civilians. This once, dumping ground of waste now stands proudly as a nature park in Mumbai by beating all odds. This very beautiful park boasts of having some of the most exquisite medicinal trees as well as a separate area reserved especially for fruits and vegetation. This park is also home to as many as 55 species of birds including some migrating flocks. The nature park also consists of a Library, an amphitheatre and audiovisual room. This nature park has contributed enormously, to prevent human encroachment and to spread the message of wildlife conservation.

The managing director of Mahim Nature Park, Mhaskar who has been with this project since its conceptualisation, feels that the park has been a boon to school children. "Initially it was planned for school kids. But when we realised that we needed finances for setting up an amphitheatre, library, etc., we had to open the park to other visitors too. We charge Rs 5 as entrance fee from the visitors. Also the sale proceeds from ayurvedic plants grown in the park, adds to our finances. However, a lot of people still are not aware of the existence of this park. We have to bring about more awareness about the park. They just look upon Dharavi as a slum area," he adds.

The Mahim Nature Park in Mumbai is an educational Park. It is actively involved in the preservation of wildlife not just in Mumbai, but also in India. This is also the ultimate place in Mumbai, which offers the view of exotic birds and different varieties of trees in their natural surroundings. Undoubtedly, it is an ideal tourist destination in Mumbai, as it not only entertains, but also leaves the visitors with a will to protect the environment, which is a big achievement in itself.

A peepal tree stands guard at the entrance of the park. "It is the life giving tree so it is at the entrance," explains Chatterji. A few metres away is an area earmarked for medicinal plants found in various parts of India. It is awesome to see such a variety in one place. Further down there is an area where fruits and vegetables are grown.