Just a short drive outside Mumbai on the Mumbai-Pune Highway to Goa, is the densely forested Karnala Bird Sanctuary, a pleasant surprise away from Mumbai's concrete jungle. Karnala is a tiny sanctuary, barely 4.8 sq km, home to over 150 resident bird species and about 37 types of avian migrants.
It is located in the mountain range of the Western Ghats. It is surrounded by many hills and is a trekkers paradise. Climbing Karnala can be a great experience for trekkers. Trekking can be dangerous in the rainy season so it can be done in the rest of the year. While climbing the fort you come across many species of birds in nature. River Patalganga is towards the east of the fort. Greenery covers and surrounds the fort of Karnala.
The sanctuary abounds in bird life and during the migrating season from October to April as many as 140 species of birds have been recorded. Though Karnala is principally a bird sanctuary, many other interesting forms wildlife like wild boar, the four-horned antelope, the muntjak and the common langur also occur here.
In winter, the migrants take over and the pattern of bird life changes. The migrants include a variety of birds such as the blackbird, the blue-headed rock-thrush, the bluethroat, the red breasted flycatcher, the ashy minivet, the black headed cuckoo-shrike and a host of others.
Monsoons are very severe in this part of the world. So you can avoid them during June-August. Best time to visit: October to April.
From Vashi (New Mumbai) - 32km. (one Way)
From Panvel regular buses and autorickshaws(6 sitters) going towards Pen will drop you at Karnala, but the frequency is very less after 6.00-7.00 PM. The fare is around Rs.10.00.
Adults - Rs.20/- Child - Rs.15/-
Parking Two Wheelers - Rs.15/- Four Wheelers - Rs50/-
Easy - Move Left from the entrance, One can take this path, which starts from the Water pump house. Follow the Arrow marks displayed on the Trees.
Difficult - Move Right from the entrance. This path can be taken from Man made Steps near the entrance, which leads directly to the Forest.
Karnala Pinnacle offers refuge to endangered birds like the peregrine falcon, king vulture and the crested serpent eagle. The four-horned antelope, wild boar, common langur, African monkeys and the muntjak or barking deer are amongst the commonly seen wildlife, while the leopard is spotted rarely.
Apart from being a place of interest to the naturalist, Karnala is redolent of martial history. Karnala Fort or the 'Funnel Hill' as it is called, stands 475 metres high. Its command of the high road between Bhorghat and the rivers of Panvel and Apta, must have from the earliest time, made Karnala a place of strategic importance. Two gateways one at the foot and the other at the top of the rock-hewn steps lead to a dual gateway with a chamber in between. There are two inscriptions in the Fort, one in Marathi and the other in Persian. The Fort has a chequered history of having passed through the hands of Muslim, Portuguese and Maratha rulers.
Food is not available on the Fort. So carry all your edibles from the base of the Fort or Near by village or Highway Hotels.
Take All the Drinking materials from the base. As there is no water available on the Hill/Fort. During the summer it is advisable to take lots of water along, as it may cause to dehydration because of heat.
Rain water gets accumulated at the bottom of the fort,which is available throughout the year which may or may not be hygienic.
Tips - Take Lots of drinking Water along with you during the summer trek.
Top pinnacle has huge honeycombs. If you are with kids be careful.