Barely sixty kilometers from Mumbai, Karnala is a compact escape for bird watchers, hikers, picnickers, and rock climbers. The centerpiece is an ancient hill fort rising dramatically from the Karnala Bird Sanctuary at its base.
Karnala Fort sits at 1,560 feet and is topped by a distinctive 125-foot rock pinnacle that locals call "the thumb" — a well-known challenge for serious rock climbers. The surrounding forest was declared a Bird Sanctuary in 1968, and wildlife surveys have recorded more than 140 resident and 40 migratory bird species here, including four species of hornbill, owls, bulbuls, and mynas.
The sanctuary and fort can both be covered in a single day trip from Mumbai or Pune. The gate opens at 6am, and the early hours are best for both birds and the hike up to the fort in manageable temperatures.