A climb up above the Tikujini wadi of Manpada leads you to a veritable paradise. With Borivili in the background, majestic mountains eternally unfolding beneath your feet, carpeted by natural foliage and fauna,
breathing fresh air as nature
intended will
not allow you to retreat to the city. Dotted with tribal huts and shed snake skin, sprinting squirrels are among some of the discoveries
that can be made by ardent trekkers everyday.

Other wild animals and birds will be spotted if one is patient and quiet. The tribal in the hut above will offer water that is pure and clean and straight from the springs.

A day spent in this enchanting forest leaves you breathless that such richness that lies just an hour away from Mumbai, is yet surprisingly unspoilt by human influence. Please do not litter and leave any mess when you visit.


Dabdaba the waterfalls
Still largely unknown and unspoiled, the Yeoor Hills waterfall right in the lap of nature is a perfect place to spend a relaxed day with family and friends. This raw jungle, tempered by the local forest department, is an exhibition of the true colours of nature. And all at close quarters, within an hour's drive from Mumbai. Concealed behind a screen of mist is the source of the waterfall.

On the way to the waterfall

On a nice monsoon day, the welcome sound of birds chirping may transport you to another time, when nature and man lived in peaceful co-existence. Yet unexplored even by the local Thaneites, Yeoor is a well-beaten path created out of nothing by the forest department. Spanning approx. 40 sq. kms, it is home to almost 78 known species of birds, and about 12 different species of animals. Feeding them, is close to 34 natural springs that flow throughout the year.

Yeoor River in spate

To ensure that careless picnickers do not spoil the surrounding greenery, forest officer Samir Deshpande has already taken precautionary steps. Two officers have been placed right at the start of the green belt. There are regular checks to see that people do not carry plastic bags and Bisleri bottles. "We want to educate them about this dense forest which is such a treasure" adds Deshpande.


Mama Bhanja Dargah at the Yeoor Hills
The dual Dargah or 'Holy Shrine' right on top of the peak of the Yeoor Hills is about 150 years old. According to legend, says Mastaan Baba who has been the caretaker of the graves with his family for the last 40 years or so, at prayer time at the Jama Masjid in Mumbai, some people were asked to come to the graves on the Hills of Yeoor.

A view of Thane from Mama Bhanja Dargah

As the people arrived there and climbed about 1700 feet, they found two graves of the Uncle and Nephew - 'Mama Bhanja', each about half a kilometer apart. Devotees of all communities come to the shrines here to pay their respects, and to ask for favours. Mastaan Baba who resides about half way up the hill with his family, pigeons and peahens, offers each visitor a cup of black tea with garlic, keeping alive the tradition of another sage who lived there a long time ago.

A shrine on the way

Those of you who wish to visit the Shrines, are advised to do so on a Thursday or Friday when there is a safely large crowd going up to the Shrines, as there may be panthers and other animals around who inhabit the jungle. On any other day, the forest officer should be contacted for any help that they might be able to offer. From the mountain tops, you can enjoy a fantastic view of Goregaon, Tulsi Lake and Vihar Lake.

Some photographs of the treks in Yeoor.