Dhenugal of Aarey - The land grant relics from medieval times
Aarey forest lies on the fringes of Sanjay Gandhi National park, It became a hub of dairy industry when Dara Nusserwanji Khurody, milk commissioner of Bombay established Aarey milk colony in 1949-50. Aarey today acts as a buffer between the city and the forest of SGNP, one of the few green spaces left in the city. The road dissecting the Aarey forest provides easy connectivity between the western and eastern suburbs. But within the forest of Aarey lies close to over 25 settlements of the indigenious tribal hamlets or locally known as "padas", The tribals who have inhabited the forest for many generations and centuries. Marol - a locality today near Aarey was an area that has been inhabited in pre Portuguese era also. It is said that Marol was the economic capital during the Shilahara dynasty which ruled North Konkan during 8th to 12th century. It is also said that Raja Bimbdev from 13th century who established his kingdom and capital Mahikhavati at present day Mahim is also s...