wellness
Malad Residents Discover Hidden Nature Walks Tourists Miss
Residents in Malad turn to lesser-known trails for daily movement as summer temperatures climb.
How we reported this
Local residents in Malad have increased their use of unmarked trails along the Oshiwara River corridor in Malad West since early June.
These routes matter now because the Malad chapter of the Mumbai Wellness Network reported a 35 percent rise in registered outdoor sessions between May and July 2026, driven by residents seeking shaded movement options during peak heat.
One route starts at the pedestrian underpass near Malad Station on S.V. Road and follows the riverbank north for 2.8 kilometres past the old quarry site. Another begins behind the Mindspace business district on Link Road and loops through the fringe of the Aarey buffer zone, crossing two small streams before rejoining Goregaon-Mal ad Road.
Routes locals keep to themselves
The Malad Runners Collective has run monthly group sessions on the river corridor every third Sunday since 2024. Participants meet at 6:30 a.m. near the water pumping station on Malad West's Chincholi Bunder Road. The Mindspace loop is maintained by the local branch of the BMC Parks Department, which installed new signage in March 2026 after complaints about erosion on the steeper sections.
A 2025 BMC survey counted 1,872 daily users on these two stretches combined, compared with 1,240 in the same period two years earlier. Entry remains free, though the collective charges 300 rupees for optional guided sessions that include water stops and basic first-aid kits.
How to reach the trails
Residents advise starting before 7 a.m. to avoid direct sun and carrying at least one litre of water. The river corridor connects directly to the Malad Creek walkway at its northern end, while the Mindspace route offers a shaded bench every 800 metres. Those new to the paths can download the Malad Wellness app, updated last month with GPS markers for both routes.