Sanjay Gandhi National Park : Historical Information
The Sanjay Gandhi National Park has a strong historical background. The park dates back to the 4th century BC. In ancient India, Sopara and Kalyan were two ports in the vicinity that traded with ancient lands such as Greece and Mesopotamia. The routes between these two ports was through this forest.
The park was named ‘Krishnagiri National Park’ in the pre-independence era. At that time the area of the park was just 20.26 sq. km. In 1969, the park was expanded to its present size by acquiring various properties adjoining the park.After this, an independent unit of the Forest Department called ‘Borivali National Park Sub-division’ was created and the Krishnagiri National Park was renamed as ‘Borivali National Park’. In 1981, it was once again re-christened as ‘Sanjay Gandhi National Park’ after Sanjay Gandhi, the son of ex Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, who was killed in an air crash.
