About 55 km away from Mumbai, this old fort is situated on
Mumbai-Goa highway, between Panvel and Pen. The fort is surrounded by dense
forest. Various species of plants, birds and animals are seen here. There are
remains of the gates, godowns etc. A bird sanctuary is set up here. Karnala
forest is truly for the birds.
source:en.wikipedia.org
Despite its small area, about 5 km sq. size,
variety of bird sights and sounds here are unbelievable. During monsoon, a
winding trek 450 mt. up to the historic Karnala fort, takes one through
monsoon undergrowth and deciduous forest.
On a clear and sunny morning, from this vantage point, in
the vicinity of the famed pinnacle rock formation, one is afforded an eagle's
eye view of the surrounds. Barely 30 km at west, the Mumbai coast is visible
from here. In winter Karnala is visited by several migratory birds, mostly wood
land species which come in from their breeding grounds in the Himalayas. The
best bird watching time here is between November and February. Established as a
sanctuary in 1971, the checklist of birds recorded in the tiny forest totals up
to an impressive 150 plus species.
By far, one of the finest walks here is the Boremal Trail. A
majority of the people come here to picnic, especially during weekends and on
holidays, for a respite from the confines of the city.
Karnala is the best picnic spot for bird lovers. The Bird Sanctuary is best after monsoons, when the forest is green and pristine. An easy trek to Karnala fort through thick forest is invigorating.
ReplyDelete