Central Park Kharghar Review

The concept of the urban or metropolitan park is relatively new in India. You will find a lot of municipal parks in China, but none of them are as large as the Central Park, Kharghar. This Navi Mumbai public park spans around 290 acres, which makes it the largest in Asia. This is one of the rarest public parks in India, it is located in the heart of the Kharghar city. In this review, I have shared images, common features, and benefits of the Central Park Kharghar. 

What is this place?

Central Park is an urban park that offers recreational space for the people staying in Kharghar city. Visitors can engage in activities such as walking, running, yoga, photography, meditation, entertainment, and much more. 

Locals can also have picnics and social gatherings in this park. Some people also call this park “the lungs of Navi Mumbai” as the 290-acre area is covered with lush green trees and plantations. This is a class A public park with loads to offer to people of all ages. 

Who built the Central park?

This park was built in 2010 by the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO). It is spread across several sectors (20, 23,24, and 25), but the entrance is nearest to sector 20. It is opposite the famous 8-hole golf course which is open to people with a valid entry pass. You should note that CIDCO is owned and operated by the Government of Maharashtra. 

How to reach this park from Kharghar station?

Kharghar railway station is the nearest railway station to the central park. The distance between the Central Park and Kharghar railway station is approximately 3.8 km if you take the Raintree Marg/Utsav Chowk – CISF route. You will find shared auto-rickshaws going in that direction from the railway station itself. You can also opt for Ola or Uber. Note that the park is not at a walkable distance from the railway station. 

Central park Kharghar timings

The park is open from 6 am – 9 am and from 5 pm – 8 pm — on all days including public holidays. You will find a lot of people working out in the morning. The evening slot is occupied by families and social groups. 

I would recommend the morning slot for individuals interested in fitness activities. And the evening slot is perfect for someone wanting to hang out with family and friends. This is just my opinion, you can pick any of the slots. Entry to the park is absolutely free. You can visit multiple times a day. 

Common features and benefits of Central Park

#1 Amphitheater

An amphitheater is an open-air venue for entertainment purposes. The amphitheater in Central Park is large enough for local and international cultural events. As you can see in the image above, the stage is surrounded by three pools— mainly for aesthetic purposes. 

The amphitheater has a couple of booths at the entrance. The individual or organization organizing the event can place their own staff in the booths. This can be done for identity verification, ticketing, information desk, etc. To rent the amphitheater you must contact the Central Park authorities.

The amphitheater can hold a minimum of 500 people at a time. As you can see in the image above, the seats are made of concrete, and there is no individual seating. If needed more people can fit in the amphitheater. Plus, there’s plenty of space for people to stand and enjoy the event. 

#2 Couples space

Central Park has plenty of places for couples to sit and enjoy their time together. One such place is “Panchvati”. In case you didn’t know, “Panchvati” is a Sanskrit for “Five Banyan Trees”. Panch means five and Vati means Banyan tree. 

Keep in mind that this is not an official couples space. However, due to its location and ambiance, it is popular among couples. 

Furthermore, the park is quite strict when it comes to public displays of affection (PDA). You can chat and sit close to each other, but try not to engage in physical intimacy with your partner.   

#3 Gazebo

A gazebo is a small structure built in the middle of a park that gives a wide view of the surrounding area. Central Park has a lot of gazebos built across the park. 

As you can in the image above, the gazebo has four benches where you can sit and relax after a long walk or a run. You will often see older folks using the gazebo as a place to meet and congregate with their friends. Moreover, this can be a great place to meditate early in the morning. 

#4 Jogging track

You won’t believe it, but the jogging track is one of the main attractions of Central Park. Kharghar is one of the upscale places in Navi Mumbai. A lot of people here are conscious of their health and wellbeing. 

You will see plenty of runners, joggers, and walkers arriving at the park early in the morning. This park is suitable for both solo and group runners. Once you are done with your workout, you can spend a few minutes relaxing on the lawn or in the gazebo in the park. 

As you can see in the image above, the park has benches placed adjacent to the jogging track. You can take a breather by sitting on the bench mid-workout. Moreover, the surrounding trees offer plenty of shadow for people who jog around 8 am. 

#5 Picnic facilities

The evening 5 pm – 8 pm slot is perfect for picnicking with your family, friends, relatives, or co-workers. The park allows visitors to carry their own food. Plus, there’s a cafeteria— just outside the secondary entrance — where you can buy snacks and soft drinks for cheap. 

Furthermore, I would suggest picnickers maintain social hygiene during the time they spend in the park. Kindly throw trash in the dustbins that are conveniently placed all over the park. Note that the picnic facilities are available only for families and small groups of people. 

#6 Public restrooms

All urban parks have public restrooms, a park would be incomplete without them. Central Park has plenty of restrooms spread all over the area. You can use one without paying a penny. The restroom can be used for urination and defecation purposes. 

As you can see in the image above, the restroom is divided into two sections: male and female. They are large enough. You don’t have to wait in the queue even during rush hours.

#7 Parking 

People come to this park from several parts of Navi Mumbai. It is the only park that is designed especially for fitness enthusiasts. Naturally, there is a need for a large enough parking space. 

Central Park has allocated a massive space for two-wheeler and four-wheeler parking. You can see the two-wheeler parking space in the image above. The four-wheeler parking is located right next to it. The parking area is situated at the entrance of the park. 

#8 Artificial lake

There’s an artificial lake in the park that is meant purely for aesthetic purposes. It is also a house to thousands of small fish and other aquatic animals. Bird watchers can come early in the morning to look at birds of several foreign species. The lake attracts all kinds of birds from swans, and sparrows, to kingfishers. 

As you can see in the image above, the lake is covered with a layer of pink flowers that grow on trees adjacent to the lake. The pink flower represents grace and happiness. The lake is adjacent to the jogging track, hence you can walk around observing the serenity of this man-made water body. 

As you can see in the image above, the lake is surrounded by pine trees that are foreign to Navi Mumbai. You only see pine trees in the Northern parts of India such as Himachal, Jammu, and Uttarakhand. 

Furthermore, the mountain view as you can see in the image is unbelievably beautiful. You can take selfies with the mountain range and the lake as background. 

Summarizing the review

Central Park Kharghar is a perfect place for both active and passive recreation. You could be a triathlon athlete or someone who meditates once in a while, I can guarantee that you will find this park useful. There’s something to do for fitness enthusiasts of all ages. 

Having said that, there are some downsides to this park as well. Firstly, it is located away from the city center (and the Mumbai Pune highway). It is about 3.8 km away from the Kharghar railway station. Secondly, there is a mosquito problem, especially during the winters. Do not forget to put on some mosquito repellent cream if you are visiting in the evening. 

Conclusively, this is a good park for people staying in Kharghar and nearby cities such as Kamothe, Taloja, Belapur, and Seawoods. You were reading the Central Park Kharghar review. Do you have any questions related to the park? Leave a comment below.