Karnala Bird Sanctuary Maharashtra

Hardly a sixty-kilometer drive from Mumbai, the financial capital of India, nestles Karnala bird sanctuary where there is greenery all around; a place where colorful birds come together to form a kaleidoscope in the sky; visitors usually wake up with the rooster crow cock a doodle doo and end your day with fireflies creating a magical woodland glow. Apart from its enormous winged beauties that light up the sky as soon as the dawn settles, the sanctuary features a grand Karnala Fort, which if seen from a distance looks like a funnel-shaped loudspeaker, and in Marathi, it is called a ‘karn.' Such beautiful are the terrains that even the park greets one with a "thumbs up," which is as a matter of the fact is a pillar at the center of the fort. And that's the reason why the place earned a nickname - Karnala ‘Thumbs Up’ point. To reach the top of the park - Karnala Fort, one should do strenuous trek for six kilometers. Moreover, many prominent treks touch the park and perhaps that the only way one can explore this bird kingdom.

All thanks to the remarkable efforts of Dr. Salim Ali, the bird man of India whose main motto was bird preservation in the country, the sanctuary caught up the attention of Maharashtra government. In the year 1968, the park was declared as the bird sanctuary. Currently, it boasts of 150 resident and 37 migratory bird species that visit the here during the winter. Ashy Minivet, three-toed Kingfisher, and Malabar Trogon are some of the rare bird species that can be spotted in the park. And recently, a leopard was also spotted in the park. With the change in weather, the population of the sanctuary keeps on changing. It's during the monsoon; the park is in its full glory; the vivid collection of species such as Paradise Flycatcher, Magpie Robin, and Malabar Whistling Thrushes, come together to sing songs. During this time, the sanctuary turns a brilliant green, and dozens of little rivulets spring up and flow by.

Highlights

• Reckoned as the bird watchers paradise, here one can see over 150 local and 37 migratory bird species. Ashy Minivet, Three-toed Kingfisher, and Malabar Trogo are some rare species that have found their home in the park. Sometimes leopards are also sighted in the park.
• To test your endurance and strength levels, trek to Karnala Fort. Many exciting hiking and trekking trails touch the vicinity of the park like Hariyal Nature Trail, which offers extraordinary bird spotting opportunities. Tourists can also consider Mortaka Trail, which offers number opportunities spot butterflies.
• The Sanctuary also runs an initiative, as per which all the plastic belongings that tourist will be carrying would be noted down at the conservation center. Tourists will have to pay a deposit, which would be reimbursed while exiting, only if they have an exact number of plastic belongings they carried inside. Perhaps an interesting way to keep the park clean and beautiful.
• Don't forget to see the Karnala ‘Thumbs Up’ point.