A Day Trip to the Lush Green Aarey Colony Mumbai
Interested in a day trip in the heart of Mumbai? Searching for the location suitable for a family picnic? Then this article which describes the Aarey Colony Mumbai may be useful to you. Here I have described the location, in brief, its history, how to reach, and what to do. This is an ideal one day getaway in Mumbai, reachable from South, Western, Eastern and Harbour parts of the city.
If you are looking for a picnic in a green place, in the city limits and want to inhale clean air, then Aarey colony Mumbai will suit your requirement. Read on about how to plan a day trip to this beautiful green location here. Chhota Kashmir is located in Aarey Colony and is an excellent and budget picnic destination in Mumbai but yet out of the hustle and bustle of the city. This place is known for decades for the milk farm set up by the Dairy Development Department , a state government initiative. It has been supplying Aarey milk and milk products for decades. Aarey colony Mumbai
Did you know that the Aarey colony was established in 1949, just two years after independence? Aarey Dairy was inaugurated in 1951 by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to provide packed milk and education via its Institution. The main objective of erecting this colony was to shift the cattle from the city limits, provide cheaper and better milk and maintain cattle using scientific and modern animal husbandry practices. You can find Aarey stalls across the city selling milk and milk products like flavoured milk,ghee, shrikhand, peda etc.. The colony area of 1200+ hectares houses 32 cattle farms, with 16000 cattle. The place draws local and outstation tourists in all seasons all through the year. Maharashtra Public Works Department has built a road which connects Western Express highway to Powai. The place is green because of tall trees growing along all the roads and grass and fodder cultivation in the campus. The land is allocated to various central and State government organisations and institution, namely the Central Govt. Institute (Central Poultry Farm, Modern Bakery, NDDB, RBI) and State Govt. Institutions ( Mumbai Veterinary College, SRP, MHADA, MCGB, Film City, Fishery). 
How to reach
Aarey Colony is located on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway between Malad and Goregaon. The place is accessible from Goregaon railway station by auto-rickshaw at a distance of 5kms. Alternatively, you can take 326, 341, 450, 451, 460, 479 buses which pass through Aarey Dairy Milk Colony. If you want to see many places in the colony then it may be best to take your own four wheeler. We have even driven by a two-wheeler from Mahim before the rains commenced this season. If you are taking a Mumbai Darshan bus, then Aarey Dairy Milk Colony will be on the itinerary. Things to do in Aarey Colony
The Aarey Colony is spread across 3800 acres of forest land and attracts all those who love nature or want to spend a day picnicking with family or friends. The green forests and small lush grasslands along tarred roads are worth a visit. Come monsoon and the entire place becomes heaven on earth! If you want to spend three hours to an entire day at this place, then check out the following list of activities:
Many little booths in the colony sell milk and other dairy products along the 7km stretch. The colony has a parking lot and restrooms. But beware of the wild animals lurking around since there have been few cases of leopard attacks.
Overall a one day trip to Aarey Colony is worth it for family and friends.
Green Aarey Colony in Mumbai is a perfect destination for natural lovers. I made a visit to Aarey Colony when I was in Mumbai. A drive through Aarey Colony is an awesome experience.