Other weekend getaways
Other forts and trekking destinations
08th January 2012
Perched high above,
An eye, alert, on all that flows, much below
We, of a feather flock together,
yellow, green, blue, red, dark, light,
fancifully real, feathers of delight
Soaring into the clear blue skies, our flight,
the colour of freedom, only shadowed by the night...
to each other, a wonder, you to me, me to you
His creation, a juxtaposition of different hues
Get used to me as I try and get used to you.....
- SDC
Had been to Karnala when I was a kid. All I remember of it was the huge yellow beaked hornbill in one of the cages. That guy was missing on this visit though!!
Karnala, is about 10-12 km from Panvel and the bird sanctuary is actually bifurcated by the national highway. Though in such proximity to Panvel, we had some difficulty reaching there. The thugs (rickshaw wallahs) wanted INR 200 and we refused to give in. The ST stand was full of buses, but it seemed no one had a clue to where the birds actually nest and rest. A sensible guy told us that buses going to 'Alibaug' and 'Pen' go through that route but finding one was getting on our nerves as we were directed from one 'phatak' (stop) to another with every Ham, Prick and Weary conductor having only one word in the name of guidance "Pallikade" (On the other side in Marathi).
We gave up and gave in to the rickshaw wallah at the rickshaw stand near the ST stand for INR180 to the bird sanctuary. Another thing to remember is, don't ask the locals for the 'Karnala Bird Sanctuary'; they will go blank as if you asked them about their illicit affair... instead ask for 'Karnala Abhayaranya' and the enlightenment is dawned upon them.
The bird sanctuary is actually a small one and most people come here for a trek to the Karnala fort or for a day picnic. As the day progresses, you will find families flocking on a weekend, well packed with home made lunches and unpacked kids with their cricket bats, yelling at the top of their voices. Actual bird lovers are few at the sanctuary as you can hear loud voices of groups of braying human donkeys all around and then they complain of not sighting any birds...asses!! A suggestion for bird enthusiasts would be to visit on a weekday if possible. We did see some passionate patient people with binoculars waiting to get a glimpse of the feathery family on the 'Hariyali trail', one of the trails for bird watching in the sanctuary. A middle aged couple actually showed us an 'Asian Paradise Fly Catcher'. What a beautiful and strange bird with a white spotless tail about 4-5 times the length of its body. The other birds we saw at the sanctuary were an owl, egrets, a blue thrush, herons. The fauna included the black faced langur, monkeys, squirrels and a giant yellow spider. Among the caged ones were peacocks, parrots, some coloured doves, and rabbits.
Whether you are a bird enthusiast or not, a lovely winter walk through the jungle has a flavour of its own. Amaze yourselves at the twisted trees and vines as you see the 'Thumb' of the Karnala fort in the distance. As you finish the 'Hariyali trail', you come out to the bird cages and there is a small guesthouse and a canteen. Beside and behind the canteen begins the path for the Karnala fort trek. We did venture on the trek, but that on the next blog....FEEL FREE....FLY FREE....LIVE AND LET LIVE!!
Thanks Nishant and Anil for being a part of this trip!!
Some gyaan on the sanctuary:
