Sanjay Gandhi National Park
Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a protected area in Mumbai, Maharashtra State in India. It was established in 1969 with headquarters at Borivali. The 2400-year-old Kanheri caves sculpted by monks out of the rocky cliffs, lie within the park. The rich flora and fauna of Sanjay Gandhi National Park attract more than 2 million visitors every year. History. The Sanjay Gandhi National Park area has a long written history dating back to the 4th century BCE. In ancient India, Sopara and Kalyan were two ports in the vicinity that traded with ancient civilisations such  as Greece and Mesopotamia. The land route between these two ports was partially through this forest. The Kanheri Caves in the centre of the park were an important Buddhist learning centre and pilgrimage site sculpted by Buddhist monks between the 9th and the 1st centuries BCE. They were chiselled out of a massive basaltic rock outcropping. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (formerly Bombay Municipal Corporation) acquired the catchment areas of the Tulsi and Vihar lakes, and also added the land from the government dairy of Aarey under protection. The Krishnagiri National Park was established under the Bombay National Park Act in  1942. At that time the area of the park was only . The dairy development board began operations near Krishnagiri National Park in 1954, but outside the area of the park. In 1969, of the land of the Aarey Milk Scheme (now known as Aarey Milk Colony) was transferred to the forest department. However, this area was not notified as reserved or protected forests. In 1976, an area of was officially designated as Borivali National Park. The Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (FDCM), Nagpur sent an official communication to the Regional Manager, FDCM, Thane on 22 July 1980 stating that  the of revenue land that was transferred from Aarey Milk Scheme were to be included in Borivali National Park. The communication also directed that