Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Yesterday Manu took me out to Sanjay Gandhi National Park, just a few minutes north of his house. When I think National Park, images of vast, open expanses, highly regulated conservation efforts, and plenty of wildlife come to mind. But this National Park was not that at all--it was more of a family amusement park, complete with playgrounds for the kids, vendors selling junk food, and a toy train ride. Couples strolled hand in hand along the shaded cement paths, kids fed the ducks along the litter infested creek, and families maneuvered their way around a man-made pond in paddle boats. Inside the park, villagers went about their daily routines, unfazed by the constant stream of Indian tourists, high rise apartment complexes peered over the chain-link fence boundary of the park, providing a reminder that the expansive development of Mumbai was just a stones throw away. The National Park's (I'm not sure I should even be allowed to call it that!) biggest draw are the Kanheri caves. Carved into the rock face in the 1st century by Buddhist monks, the deterioration of the caves from over exposure to human trampling has left them as little more than holes in the wall. There were 2 giant Buddha's that were pretty impressive though. After climbing in, on, and around the caves, and ultimately contributing to their demise, Manu and I went of a "Tiger Safari." This too was like a ride at an amusement park. We boarded an army green bus with young mothers, their screaming children, and overly enthusiastic fathers, and set off to find some tigers. Initially I was a little confused and worried. Thinking that because this is a National Park, I figured the tigers would be left to freely roam, but considering that people actually lived in and around the park, I was concerned for their safety. But as we turned a corner and a giant, Jurassic Park type fence slowly opened its protective barrier, I understood. We drove through the enclosure, peering in forced excitement through the bus windows in anticipation of seeing a tiger. The bus came to a screeching halt as the passengers erupted into a series of oohs and ahhs, as we watched a white tiger lazily stroll through his habitat before dipping himself in a pool of water. We drove through a few of these gated enclosures spotting tigers and lions (I had no idea lions were native to India. I thought they were an African exclusive!) before heading back to our starting point. Other than the families of cunning, begging monkeys that seem to have permeated all of India, the caged cats were the only animals we saw. I'd have to say that Sanjay Gandhi National Park is little more than an overhyped zoo, and not exactly deserving of National Park status!