mrityunjaybose

Steady decline in sightings of birds in MMR MUMBAI:  There has been a steady decline in sighting of birds in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) – and regular destruction of green cover, mangroves and wetlands are contributing to it. The MMR c omprises of two districts of  Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburbs and part of three neighbouring districts of Thane, Palghar and Raigad. In terms of spread, it is 4,355 sq kms – and more than two crore people stay here besides a huge floating population. Mumbai is spread over 603 sq km. Mumbai and its suburbs are birding hotspots and this causes concern. “With well over 350 bird species recorded over the years in and around this city, lying as this does at a critical point not just on the avifaunal migration route but is also flanked by a vast landscape of habitats, Mumbai is a birding hotspot,” according to naturalist Sunjoy Monga, who had conceptualized the India BirdRaces programme. On the eve of 11 th ...

January 1, 2015 From: MB/Mumbai On top of Mumbai Mrityunjay Bose This is one place from where you can see three lakes together: there would be very few places like this in India or across the globe.  Jambulmal, the highest peak of Mumbai – located inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in the northern suburbs of India’s commercial capital, is unique in many respects. Besides being the topmost point of Mumbai, one can see three lakes clearly from a machan – the Tulsi lake, Vihar lake and the Powai lake. On way to the top from the two plateau’s that come in between – one can see the tall buildings – the concrete jungle, a view from within the real jungle. And when one commences the ascent, one can see the majestic Kanheri caves -  a complex of 100-plus caves. Plus, during the trail, one learns the art of being in wilderness and there is a chance to see a variety of animals and birds. It would not be a surprise, if one can spot a leopard or note its presence by oth...

December 29, 2014 From: MB/Mumbai Fell in love while treking, tied nupitals at tallest peak of Maharashtra MUMBAI:  They trekked together, fell in love, proposed and got married – that too in a unique way. They chose to marry at Mt Kalsubai, the tallest peak of the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra. The couple – Vivek Patil and  Swapnali Dhabugade  – wanted different and decided to marry at 1,646-metre tall,  Mt Kalsubai – that is spread between Igatpuri taluka of Nashik district and Akole taluka of Ahmednagar distict. The marriage was performed in a traditional Maharashtrian manner over Saturday and Sunday. The marriage was different from all accounts – not only the bride and bridegroom, their parents and relatives, friends and invitees trekked their way up to the pinaccle where the ceremony were performed. Part of a group known as TrekLovers,  Thane resident  Vivek Patil, an engineer with Larsen & Toubro, Powai and Swapnali Dhabugade, a co...