Once upon a river

Dahisar River Walk OutdoorsOnce upon a time Mumbai was not just an archipelago surrounded by sea but also a network of rivers When I ask people around about rivers in Mumbai most of them look at me blankly So it seemed imperative to meet a riverFor years Aslam Saiyad and his buddy Gopal MS have been documenting the rivers of Mumbai and the people living around it They have now set up Halluhallu a walking experiences service with a focus of discovering the city through slow offbeat trails and walks So when they announced a river walk in Dahisar I jumped at the opportunityWe meet outside Sanjay Gandhi National Park SNGP on a Sunday I follow nineyearold Dhruv into the park to get a sense of the topography of the space SNGPs canopied roads are a dream and before we pass the river we meet a stag and later a group of deer When Aslam enquires if we know names of the rivers in Mumbai most of us can name only two We are stunned to discover others like Ulhas Mogra Govandi Irla Vakola Tansa Tasso and OshiwaraWe meet members of the Warli community who have been living by the Dahisar river for years Here most homes barely get electricity Many members of this community work as caretakers guards and dailywage labourers at the SNGP and the only practicing Warli artist in a community of 4000 people is Dinesh Barap We meet Barap who takes us through his artworks and conducts a session on the art form Palettes made out of leaves and brushes are distributed so we can make our own Warli artBarap tells us about the natural materials and colours he uses like earth and cow dung It is fascinating to find out how elephant pods and pumpkin bittergroud can be used to make art We then proceed to the river and walk into it midstream The water is cool and clear We can see the bed Barap shows us homegrown methods of catching fish Its a marvel how in five minutes he has managed to catch a dozen using a bowl and small dollop of wheat flourOnce back we sift through photographs of the river taken by Aslam and Gopal who then acquaint us with the challenges this community is facing because of the encroachment on the river When we return after the fourhour walk we are richer in terms of knowledge and tingling with energySafety tip Wear shoes with a grip Carry a hat and stay hydratedFact fileWhere SNGP Borivali EastBest for Girls and boys aged 8 years and aboveHow to reach We met at the entrance of the park Alight a train to Borivali East Railway Station and hail an autorickshawTimings Timings depend on the travel group Morning is idealBudgetRs 600 kids Rs 980 for adultsFood Total cost includes a hearty breakfast with tea at a Warli home and sampling traditional Warli vegetables You may carry dry snacksWater Carry waterRest Room facilities At the start and the end of the walkWhere else to go This is a good four hour evenly paced walk At the end of it you can explore trails inside the park You may also hire a guide at the NIC office inside the park and head for a trail or pay for the safari which is exciting Or carry your bicycle and explore the park on wheelsParent Poll Plenty to learn and absorbRatingKids Poll Loved it want to returnRatingWhats Good It was wonderful to mingle with Warlis and experience their way of life The walk was wellpaced with plenty of haltsWhats Not So Good We picked plastic from the riverbed and were disheartened to find out how much we litterCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates