Wooded wonderland: Learn about the beautiful greenery in Colaba with this tree trail

Representation pic

For many Mumbaikars, Sagar Upvan Garden in Colaba is a pleasant spot for morning strolls. Few, however, are aware that the lush garden was once a sprawling dumping ground. Before 1995, the site was buried under waste. Its transformation began when the Mumbai Port Trust reclaimed the land and developed it into a botanical garden. With support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the space was carefully landscaped with native and exotic species, medicinal plants and themed garden sections. Today, the 12-acre green pocket stands as one of South Mumbai's most inspiring examples of ecological restoration.

Fish Poison Tree (Samudraphal)

On June 13, Wildnest Mumbai will host the Tree Treasure Trail, a guided nature walk designed to help visitors see the garden through a different lens. Rather than simply identifying trees, the trail encourages participants to observe closely - studying bark textures, leaf shapes, flowers, fruits and seeds while learning the stories behind them.

Indian Doum Palm (Hyphaene dichotoma). Pics courtesy/Sachin Rane, Wikimedia Commons

"Sagar Upvan is a hidden, peaceful location in South Mumbai where people can spend quiet time away from the city noise," says Sachin Rane, senior naturalist of Wildnest Mumbai. "Within a small area, we can show visitors 40 to 50 different tree species."

Cactus House in the garden

Among the botanical highlights are uncommon species such as the Indian Doum Palm (Hyphaene dichotoma), Black Pearl Tree (Majidea zanguebarica), Ujjain Desmodium Tree (Ougeinia oojeinensis), Beach Cordia (Cordia subcordata) and Pore Leaved Bauhinia (Piliostigma foveolatum). Visitors may also encounter seasonal blooms including Pride of India, Maharashtra's state flower, along with Indian Baobab and Fish Poison Tree, locally known as Samudraphal.

Black Pearl Tree (Majidea zanguebarica)

The garden's diversity extends beyond its trees. A medicinal plant section, cactus garden and abundant green cover provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies and pollinators, making the space a thriving urban biodiversity hotspot.

Sachin Rane

For Wildnest Mumbai, the trail is about more than tree identification. It is an invitation to reconnect with nature in the middle of the city and to recognise the value of green spaces that often go unnoticed. "The real treasures are the trees themselves," says Rane. "Each one carries a different story."

ON June 13; 7.30 am onwards
AT Sagar Upvan Garden, Azad Nagar, Cuffe Parade, Colaba.
LOG ON TO in.urbanuat.com
COST Rs 625