[Dodge_Viper]

Originally Posted by carzone

Seems many BHPians haven't visited SGNP. Next meet here?

I am desperately waiting for a Teambhp photoshoot meet .
Photography experts, please plan one soon.

[ashphil]

Beautiful snaps Jignesh. Amazing place. Will make it a point to visit the next time I am in Mumbai.
Thank you.

[SDP]

Here are some pics from my side:

"tional park"






Jignesh with my kids.




That's Jignesh.


Entrance of the Shilonda trail.




This guy was extremely knowledgeable.




Jignesh getting up close and personal with nature.






Grasshopper


Crab


See the dragonfly?




Everybody paying attention.

[SDP]

A few more pics from my side. Last batch.







Ever smiling and ever helping guy!






Caught the photographer!


My kids took a liking of Jignesh and spent most of the time with him.




Some snaps near the stream.

[Dodge_Viper]

Jignesh/Sanjay, how were the lighting conditions there? From the pics it seems getting proper exposure is difficult! Quite dark.

[SDP]

Originally Posted by Dodge_Viper

Jignesh/Sanjay, how were the lighting conditions there? From the pics it seems getting proper exposure is difficult! Quite dark.

It was cloudy. Near the stream, there was a lot of tree cover. So overall not the best conditions for photography. But no complaints from my side. It could have rained and that would have meant packing the cameras.

[Jignesh]

Originally Posted by SDP

A few more pics from my side. Last batch.
Ever smiling and ever helping guy!

Hello SDP,

Thank you very much for the clear & clear pictures.

Also it feels really good to see our thread mentioned as one of the hot threads on T-BHP:



Thanks,

[ashishpotdar]

Amazing. Your thread deserves to be in Hot threads . Brought back memories of school picnics, Gandhi Tekdi, Kanheri Caves and the lush greenery of National Park.

Staying in Kandivali for last 3 years and postponing going to SGNP for a long time. Much better for a Sunday morning rather than going to mindless malls

[Top-Gear]

Originally Posted by SDP

Jignesh,
The trail was good fun and I enjoyed it. Although the kids would have loved to have the trail much smaller, I would have personally liked the trail to be slightly bigger. I also wished, we could have spent a good amount of time just relaxing at the stream. But never mind, there is always a next time.

Thanks for sharing the snaps and creating this thread!

Originally Posted by Jignesh

Hello SDP,

I too enjoyed being with you & discussing some interesting topics. Looking forward to another outing like this one. Yes, even I would like such nature walks to be longer & more informative.

Thank you SDP and Jignesh! Thank you for 'opening my eyes', if you know what I mean! . The next time you guys are planning a trip there, please let me know!

BNHS, as I am sure you know, organises nature trails, and there's s Shilonda walk on Sep 15 (coming Sunday!). Also, have you been to the butterfly park at Ovalekar Wadi near Thane? Would be quite close for you, SDP, right?

Check out: http://www.bnhs.org/nature-trails-a-camps.html

[SDP]

Originally Posted by Top-Gear

...Also, have you been to the butterfly park at Ovalekar Wadi near Thane? Would be quite close for you, SDP, right?
...

You seem to have missed the following thread :
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...tterflies.html

Even Aarey colony is a fantastic place. I have been there a couple of times for bird-watching (the feathered kind).

[Jignesh]

Originally Posted by Top-Gear

Thank you SDP and Jignesh! Thank you for 'opening my eyes', if you know what I mean! Also, have you been to the butterfly park at Ovalekar Wadi near Thane? Would be quite close for you, SDP, right?Check out: http://www.bnhs.org/nature-trails-a-camps.html

Hello Top-Gear,

Thank you for the appreciation.

Yes. We know about Ovalekar (Butterfly) Wadi. We (myself & SDP) had a chance to visit this place, which I missed & SDP made most of it. He has written a very good travelogue (along with his usual excellent pictures) on his visit to this mesmerising place:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...tterflies.html

I do know about BNHS & its activities, but was never motivated enough to join them. But after this Shilonda Trail, I am seriously considering joining one of this Nature Groups.

Thanks,

[Top-Gear]

Originally Posted by SDP

You seem to have missed the following thread :
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...tterflies.html

Even Aarey colony is a fantastic place. I have been there a couple of times for bird-watching (the feathered kind).

Thanks SDP for bringing another wonderful thread to my notice! You guys are true nature lovers. And the comment, "...have been there a couple of times for bird-watching (the feathered kind)" had me . Reminded me of college days ;-).

And did I tell you that your style of narration is very much "live commentary" type, and absolutely wedded to the amazing pics. Makes me wonder whether you start thinking in terms of your narrative and go along taking pictures, or you take pictures and then build the narrative when you sit down to write the travelogue? The fluidity in the narrative suggests the former!

Originally Posted by Jignesh

Hello Top-Gear,

Thank you for the appreciation.

Yes. We know about Ovalekar (Butterfly) Wadi. We (myself & SDP) had a chance to visit this place, which I missed & SDP made most of it. He has written a very good travelogue (along with his usual excellent pictures) on his visit to this mesmerising place:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...tterflies.html

I do know about BNHS & its activities, but was never motivated enough to join them. But after this Shilonda Trail, I am seriously considering joining one of this Nature Groups.

Thanks,

Thanks a lot, Jignesh for pointing me to this thread! Yes, you really should join one of the nature groups, considering how much you love nature!

Congratulations! Your T-BHP thread is the top search result when you google Shilonda trail!



And the next time you guys plan to visit SGNP, please give me a buzz!


Btw, two questions:

1. Can we as individuals/families (as against the well known nature groups) also get permission to take the Shilonda trail? If so, how?

2. What's the best time of the year to visit Ovalekar Wadi?

[Jignesh]

Originally Posted by Top-Gear

Congratulations! Your T-BHP thread is the top search result when you google Shilonda trail!
Btw, two questions:
1. Can we as individuals/families (as against the well known nature groups) also get permission to take the Shilonda trail? If so, how?
2. What's the best time of the year to visit Ovalekar Wadi?

Hello Top Gear,

I cannot believe this. I am on Cloud No. 9. Thank you for the information. This is the one moment which I will cherish for long time.

Regarding permission to enter Shilonda Trail, it is best to do all the inquiries at SGNP Borivali Enterance. I feel permission to enter Shilonda Trail for familes / groups will be difficult but not impossible.

Regarding Ovalekar Wadi, all information including phones number is available here: http://travel.cnn.com/mumbai/visit/c...es-owla-872709


Thanks,

[LoneWolf9]

Does anyone know what it takes to go to tulsi lake zone ( which is a restricted area).

Shilonda trail was open for everyone sometime back.I think they have restricted this like a year back or so.

Also has anyone spotted any other animal ( not cages ones) apart from monkey, peacock and deer inside SGNP?

[carzone]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf9

Does anyone know what it takes to go to tulsi lake zone ( which is a restricted area).

Shilonda trail was open for everyone sometime back.I think they have restricted this like a year back or so.

Also has anyone spotted any other animal ( not cages ones) apart from monkey, peacock and deer inside SGNP?

There are 2 tigers and a Lion. But for that, you need to take the lion and tiger safari ride. Again, in cages, but good huge ones. I don't think there are open animals in SGNP.