A Mumbai Community Experience in Aarey Forest

By Ayshwarya

mumbai nature

If you live in Mumbai, it’s hard to imagine any part of it that’s devoid of the stressful, frustrating sounds of traffic—especially the high-pitched ‘beeps’ from bikes. But what if you could go to a place where you cannot hear the traffic noise? What if all you hear are birds singing, leaves rustling, crickets chirping, and your feet squishing through the mud? And no, you don’t have to venture outside Mumbai to Karjat, Igatpuri, and Ilk, which are at least three hours away from the city. All you have to do is hop onto a train or a metro heading towards Goregaon and then get an auto that takes you to Aarey Forest — the last green lungs of Mumbai. I recently discovered a unique Mumbai community experience in Aarey Forest, that combines nature and age-old traditions.

Aarey Forest – the last green lungs of Mumbai (image by K.Mehta/Unsplash)

A slow, green Sunday morning in Mumbai

The first thing that struck me was how, within half an hour of leaving my tiny apartment, I was amidst lush greenery and the sounds of the forest. 

As someone who has grown up in Mumbai and spent most of her adult life in big cities, I’ve always craved a deeper connection to nature. That feeling of grass beneath my feet, or the scent of a forest instantly transports me – a reminder that there’s a world beyond concrete, a world where I’m a part of something much bigger.

So, when I heard of a sensory experience in a forest within the city’s limits, to say that I was excited would be an understatement. I signed up, packed my day bag, and hopped onto the metro to start my journey. Our gracious and generous host from Aarey forest’s Maroshi hamlet, Manisha Dhinde, started our trip to Aarey and its indigenous tribes by asking us to put our phones away, stop talking, and observe the forest around us — listen to its pleasant, soothing sounds.

Blue skies, bright green leaves, with birdsong in the background.

Manisha guided our walk through the forest, alternating between English and Hindi. As we walked in comfortable silence (and despite the blistering heat and humidity), I could feel the stress leaving my body and being replaced by a sense of calm. You know, that moment when you’re in nature, and you get that feeling – everything will be okay.

This Mumbai community experience is an initiative by Aarey’s indigenous communities. It introduces us city-slickers to a slower, greener pace of life by guiding us through a forest that feels worlds away from the city’s hustle and bustle. 

We had an opportunity to spend a slow Sunday morning (and afternoon) in a forest, immersing ourselves in a sensory nature trail, and then foraging for some ingredients to cook using age-old recipes of the indigenous Warli community.

A sensory trail at Aarey Forest

Aarey forest is nestled within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and has 1800 acres (roughly 1000 football fields) of moist, deciduous lush greenery. It is home to 300+ species of animals, more than half a million trees, and 27 tribal communities, including the Warli tribe we met. The forest is undoubtedly one of my favourite Mumbai nature experiences.

Manisha, our guide, took us on an hour-long sensory trail to explore the rich diversity of the forest they call their home:

  • Sight: A vibrant kaleidoscope of greens (from the abundant foliage), punctuated by the reds and oranges of seeds, fruits, and insects, further embellished by the flutter of butterflies in shades of blue, green, violet, and yellow
  • Sound: A melodious chorus of birdsong harmonising with the rustling of leaves and the rhythmic squish-squash of our footsteps through the muddy terrain
  • Smell: A blend of floral fragrances, the sweet aroma of ripening fruits, and the earthy scent of the forest itself
  • Touch: Textured tree leaves and barks, cool clay, smooth seeds, and a tree leaf stem that lets you blow bubbles
  • Taste: A bittersweet experience as we tasted some of the leaves with medicinal properties (i.e., bitter), and also some that could act as natural mouth fresheners (i.e., sweet).
The many sights of Aarey.

The indigenous tribes that call Aarey their home

Aarey has been inhabited for generations by the Warli tribe. They have no written language, so they communicate through art.

mumbai community tourism warli art
Warli art on display (image by Nichalp/Wikimedia Commons)

The tribe is a nature-worshipping community that believes in a peaceful and sustainable coexistence with the forest and its creatures.

Today, this tribe speaks Marathi and Warli (sounds like Marathi), which makes openly communicating with them a challenge for non-Marathi speakers. That’s where polyglot tribe members like Manisha bridge the gap.

Something fascinating about this community is that they don’t discriminate between genders. Their rites and rituals involve married and widowed women alike. Their activism – when the city was campaigning to preserve the Aarey forest – is championed by the Warli women.

I found it deeply reassuring when Manisha narrated the pivotal role women play in the community. But I digress—let’s get back to the indigenous tribe and their relationship with the forest.

The symbiotic relationship between an indigenous community and the forest

The Warli community is self-sustaining, as the forest provides everything they need, from food and medicines to cosmetics. For instance, Manisha showed us leaves from the Adulsa tree, which heals infections, whether gastric or respiratory. Teak wood is used to make durable furniture, and its leaves are used to make red dye. Manisha, a seasoned artist, uses the red dye extracted from teak to make Warli paintings.

warli tribe mumbai community tourism
The teak tree’s leaves can be used to make red dye for eco-printing (image by D.Culbert/Wikimedia Commons)

We also came across the Goonj tree, which is good and bad for humans:

  • Its leaves are used as mouth fresheners
  • Its bright red seeds are poisonous and, hence, are used in making jewellery

Manisha also showed us the sacred Palash tree and offered us tea made from its medicinal leaves – soulful, heartwarming, and an instant cure for anxiety.

 The sacred palash tree is a medicinal tree with diuretic and astringent properties (image by D.Bagdi/Unsplash)

As we walked past each tree and I soaked in Manisha’s information, I couldn’t help but wonder how fascinating Mother Nature is. She nurtures and protects us, but she can also harm us if we act ignorantly.

An intricate support system for farming

In addition to these magical trees, the forest also has a rich biodiversity, which acts as an intricate support system for farming: 

  • Butterflies flutter through the foliage, transferring pollen
  • Beneath the surface, earthworms and other insects meticulously aerate and enrich the soil, providing vital nutrients for the vegetables and fruits to thrive
  • Red ants prey on crop-damaging pests
  • Snakes stealthily hunt rodents, preventing them from damaging the kitchen gardens and grain stock

Since I’ve only read about the symbiotic relationship that tribal communities have with nature, seeing it all in action made the entire experience profoundly invigorating.

Once we concluded the forest walk, it was time to cook. This was the highlight of the experience for me since it transformed ten strangers into a closely-knit community.

Bring age-old recipes to life under an open sky

This was my first experience with slow cooking as a group. It was incredible how everyone just wordlessly picked a task and worked together.

We gathered around a wood fire, chopping vegetables, stirring pots, and sharing stories–notably cooking experiments. Other members of the Warli community guided us when cooking. 

While the men spoke bits of Hindi, the women communicated through gestures and actions as they only spoke Warli – something that most of us didn’t fully understand. While Manisha and some of her family members helped whenever they could as interpreters, we somehow made the non-verbal communication work.

The aroma of spices filled the air, mingling with the laughter of newfound friends. We also split the tasks. One group prepared pithla, a traditional dish made using chickpea flour. This was my first time cooking something I’d never eaten in my life! Meanwhile, another group started prepping the rice bhakri (a traditional Maharashtrian flatbread) to go with the pithla.

mumbai warli tribe community experience
The age-old recipes that we brought to life in an open-air kitchen.

After cooking, we ate our meals as a community under the open sky. After that, we sat around, chit-chatting, sipping home-brewed herbal tea, talking about art, nature, and passions. 

mumbai community experience
Food art on display with fresh, warm, and crisp bhakris (a rice flatbread).

What surprised me was how nobody talked much about their work, social media, pop culture, or anything remotely tech-related.

And with that, the time to part and say our goodbyes had come. ​​This amazing Mumbai community experience had awakened my senses, helped me ground myself, and deepened my understanding of indigenous culture.

Ready to spend a slow Sunday morning inside the Aarey forest with its indigenous community?

You can indulge in this sensory experience by connecting with The Localway — that’s how I found out about it. They also offer other community tourism experiences across Mumbai

Alternatively, you can reach out to Manisha Dhinde Lotade, our guide. She is a passionate, knowledgeable, and highly respected member of the Warli community. Her passion and deep connection with the forest reflected in every interaction. I cannot think of a better way to explore and learn from Aarey forest.

It’s worth noting that even though I’ve sung praises of Manisha, this experience benefits the entire tribe and not just one family. That’s because the tribe lives and works together – their farms and kitchen gardens are community-run. On that note, if you wish to procure fresh and sustainably farmed produce, you can reach out to Dhinde farms, which is co-owned and run by a bunch of Warli tribe families. 

How to reach Aarey Forest

To get to this wonderful Mumbai community experience in Aarey Forest, you can get down at Goregaon train station or the Aarey metro station (the red line) and then take an auto.

Bio

Ayshwarya creates content for tech companies, while loitering around green landscapes and luminous skies. Her love for travel, the sea, and languages blossomed after a life-changing move to Brazil in 2013. Since then, she’s embraced the role of a slow, solo traveller, exploring beautiful islands and cities with enviable coastlines.

Now, with a heart full of wanderlust and solo-travelling experience under her belt, Ayshwarya aspires to share her passion with her 86-year-old grandmother. Together, they’re exploring accessibility-friendly places in India, creating timeless memories and celebrating a precious bond that spans generations. Connect with Ayshwarya on Instagram | LinkedIn

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