A lotus in the middle of the marsh — that is what the Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) reminds you of.

Standing close to the counter of the MNP, looking at a couple of workers harvesting honey bees, it is hard to believe that this used to be a garbage dump. So, everything is redeemable.

Flowing past the Mithi River, today, the MNP is 37 acres of green woodland.

The MNP has recorded close to 300 varieties of plants. And, thanks to the evergreen mangrove forest, 115 species of birds.

Also, a host of butterflies, insects and fungi thrive in the park, muting the vehicular sounds from the Bandra-Sion Link Road and cutting the air pollution by half.

Once inside the park it is hard to believe that you are on the brink of possibly, Asia’s largest slum.