Nagla Block Trail: Solo trek

Introduction
Nagla block trail is a northern part of the SGNP divided by the Vasai creek. Entrance of the Nagla block trail is at a walking distance of 8.2 Km from Mira road station. Once you reach the entrance of Nagla block, it is a 3 km(1.5 km from one side)  Easy trek barely visited by anyone but naturalist for sighting of insects and Birds.

History
Nagla block has been famous for two tiger spotting back in the year 2003 which left the forest department in hurdle, this was the first time tiger was ever spotted in the region since 1929 near Tansa lake, sadly the tiger was killed at that time. Apart from that leopard pug-mark on the Nagla block trail is quite common.

Journey
I decided to visit this place on 28th November 2018, day before that i was on internet trying to figure out the exact route to this place so next day i woke up early in the morning boarded metro from Azad nagar to Andheri which costed me 20 Rs return ticket then local train to Mira road station which also costed me 20 rs return ticket, after halting at station i walked for 5 min to board AC bus which heads towards Ghodbunder road, one need to get down at Fountain hotel stop which will cost you 40 Rs.

Real journey started from here, then i carefully headed to Vasai creek bridge, as i was walking from the side i could literally feel the vibration of the bridge due to all the driving of the heavy vehicle, anyway early morning view of the creek was so astonishing specially the sunrise and country side, what disappointed me was telecom and electric tower installed in the green area and also i could see some mining activities taking place right out there just opposite to the gaumukh spot. I could't get my eyes off vasai creek with breeze and sunshine reflecting on my face. Then i took out my camera to capture the beautiful scenery.

View from Vasai creek bridge

Electric tower and Mining activity in Northern SGNP range

Telecom tower in Northern SGNP Range

There was bridge work going on the sidewalk with group of labors working around, i bypassed them then i noticed one of the labor guy was just looking at me, i walked couple steps away then i looked behind and this time he was looking at me in a way like 'I am going to get you', after 2-3 minute the same guy along with one of his friends ran towards me, at that time i was like 'Damn i am about to get robbed in broad daylight' i too pulled my sleeve up and was ready to brawl if something bad happen, then he approached me by saying '' Take our Pic also'' to which i replied OK, after that he shouted at his group ''come fast''.

Group of people who thought i was a Journalist.

After i snapped their pic, they had joy of happiness on their face.Probably they thought i was a news or film editor guy working on documentary.It was good to see i could bring smile on their faces, i told them i am going to upload this on my blog, after hearing this they looked quite confused and started looking at each other like 'what is blog?' i smiled and continued with my journey. This kind of things really pumps me up to get up early in the morning and travel solo.

Once i crossed the bridge, i was trying to figure out the entrance of nagla block trail but google map was showing the wrong route by directing the way before the bridge, which was clearly a glitch by google map.
 There was no one around, finally i saw group of 10-12 policemen right outside the gate where mining activities was taking place, they too had no clue about this and told me ''be careful, don't go too deep or wait till our saheb(3 Star officer) come'' then i went to resort, there also security guard had no clue about this place.I did back and forth for like 15 minute on highway asking people about the route, then i made my mind to keep on walking until i find the nagla block trail board, finally i was able to spot the entrance after couple minute - it is like 5 minute walk from indian oil petrol pump( In google map it is written as 'Ambika automobile petrolpump) just keep on walking you will come across green board which is on the right side.

Road to Nagla Block, Indian Oil petrol pump on the right side. 

Entrance to Nagla Block Trail

Once i entered, i was greeted by dog and the calm beautiful village with huts around. Then you will come across 'National information Center' where you have to pay entrance charge which was 53 Rs, i asked in-charge guy about the visitors frequency on weekday and weekend to which he replied ''During winter on weekdays -it is visited by no one, sometimes on weekends 10 to 15 people give a visit, while during rainy reason 20 to 30 people do give a visit though'' which was a clear indication that how hidden this place is.

Here i started with my first solo trek in forest, i was trying to spot species and in that process i did spotted some, below are some of the snaps - 

Hornet

Mottled emigrant

Common Tiger

Speckled Wood

I kept walking on the trail while observing the environment, and let me tell you this time forest was talking to me, with every step on those dry leaves it was making a crunchy voice, i started to feel like somebody was chasing me in stealth mode,' Grass and leaves started getting in contact with my body the more deeper i hopped in the forest, that made me feel like somebody is touching me, Butterfly and different insect were floating around every now and then,at that moment i felt like somebody just passed right beside me, Birds were constantly chirping like someone is calling me.At that time i realized even though forest is calm and silent but it comes out as a living being trying to convey something when you trek alone.It was a very different experience.

Nagla Block Trail

Solo Trek

There was a point where i came across a locked house which was standing on a small pillar creating a gap between ground and a house base , right there at that point i saw liquor bottle and burned ash along with woods probably used for cooking, maybe it was done by locals or outsider which was a sign of a concern, specially females out here should avoid trekking alone.

Locked House on the way

Finally i was greeted by this beautiful vasai creek, i mean it was not as clean as lake which was obvious but still beautiful enough with all those mangroves around, this was the same spot where tigers were seen back in 2003. I can assure you that less than 1 % of the Mumbai population might have visited this spot.
I took a break to drink water and eat orange, looking around,admiring the environment and getting lost in thought for 15 minute,  then i decided to head back.

Vasai Creek view at the end of Nagla Block.

Once i got out and reached the highway, i met the same group of policemen at that time i told them i was able to find the route to Nagla block trail, after that they started asking me about ''Where do you live?, What is the motive behind all this trek? Procedure of entering the Restricted area?'' and many things and advise me to be safe. After this i walked all the way to the Mira road station, then i used the same means of transport to head back home like i used while coming here.