Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary: A Ultimate Travel Guide!

Mumbai is home to India’s most innovative film industry, Bollywood. The city is recognized as India’s commercial capital and mash-up of renowned old-world charm architecture, stunningly modern high rises, cultural and traditional monuments, sanctuaries, and other such structures. One of the most beautiful sanctuaries, Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, is located in Mumbai’s Thane district.

Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, also known as the Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary is one of the unexplored regions and hidden gems of Maharashtra. With an area of roughly 1600 hectares, the region was designated as a flamingo sanctuary in 2015 and is home to a diverse range of bird life, both resident and migratory. 

This location is ideal for nature and adventure enthusiasts because it will calm your body, mind, and soul. So, don’t waste much time and begin organizing your next outing with your friends and family to Mumbai‘s Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary right away!

Location

Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary is located on Thane Creek’s western shore, an inlet of the Arabian Sea.

Its view from the Airoli region, situated by the side of the Mulund-Airoli Bridge of the Indian state i.e., of Mumbai, Maharashtra is breathtakingly gorgeous, with stunning flamingos in the sky and surrounded by Mangrove forest.

Climatic Conditions

The climate of Mumbai is best described as a tropical, wet, and dry climate with a high level of humidity almost throughout the year. The seasons experienced in Mumbai are as follows:

Winter Season: In Mumbai, winter takes place only for a few days i.e., from the end of December to the end of January with the temperature ranging between 12° to 30° Celsius.

The winters in Mumbai are unlike the winters in Delhi but still, these months are the coolest months for Mumbai’s people.

Summer Season: October to December experiences extremely hot temperatures in Mumbai. In addition, the months of April, May, and June has the highest level of humidity and temperature. The maximum and minimum temperature is 40° Celsius to 22° Celsius. 

Monsoon Season: Mumbai experiences extreme rainfall from the month of July to September with heavy thunderstorm strikes. It is advised to not visit the place during this season. 

Spring Season: From late February to the end of the month of May, the region of Thane in Mumbai, Maharashtra experiences the spring season with high humidity and hot dry winds throughout the day. The temperature ranges between 17° to 33° Celsius during this season.

About Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary

Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary is the best one-day picnic destination to be visited with friends and family. Nature lovers will fall in love with the beauty of this place as it is one of the best spots to watch the beautiful pink-feathered flamingos and other migratory birds.

Other birds seen there include pied avocets, black-headed ibises, western reef herons, common sandpipers, intermediate egrets, plover birds, and others. The refuge also features a museum where gorgeous marine life is displayed in an innovative way.

The sanctuary is open 6 days a week i.e., from Monday to Saturday. From Monday to Friday, it remains open from 10 a.m. in the morning to 5 p.m. in the evening. Whereas, the timings for Saturday is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Sunday, the sanctuary remains closed but sometimes during high tides, it remains open for boating rides.

For exploring the gorgeous “Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary”, you have to pay some charges. The fee charged for adults is Rs. 50 per person and Rs. 25 per person for children. No extra charge is to be paid for capturing the beauty of this place with your cameras. 

Best Time To Visit Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary

The best time to visit Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary is in the Spring Season which takes place from late February to the end of May in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

During this season, you will be able to spot a huge variety of migratory birds all around the sanctuary, especially the pink-feathered flamingos.

The scenic beauty of the sanctuary during these months will definitely soothe your eyes, body, and mind, and bring a smile to your gorgeous face.

How To Reach Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary?

Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary is situated in the Airoli region of Thane, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. One can reach this sanctuary easily via various modes of transportation such as by airways, roadways, or railways.

The closest railway station to the sanctuary is Thane Railway Station which is around 10 km far away. Another station that can be opted for is the Airoli Railway Station which is at a 3.6 km distance but is not connected to major parts of India.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is the nearest airport for reaching the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary which is approximately 27 km far away.

Airoli Bus Station at a distance of 2.8 km far away, is the closest bus station for reaching the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary. You can also opt for a road trip to this beautiful location with friends and family.

After reaching any of the stations above, you can book a taxi, take a bus, or hire an autorickshaw to reach the desired location i.e., the beautiful sanctuary.

Additionally, if you are an adventurous person, you can choose to experience safari from the Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Centre to the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.

About Thane Creek 

At the Ulhas River’s mouth, Thane Creek is a tidal estuary that receives water from the Konkan region that flows into the Arabian Sea. There are two sections to the watercourse.

Between Thane and Ghodbunder is the first segment, while between Thane and the Arabian Sea is the second segment.

Things To Remember While Visiting Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary

• Wear comfortable clothes and footwear as you have to walk through a Bamboo Bridge which can become a tough task to do in loose slippers or sandals.
• Try to take a water bottle and some snacks.
• Carry your best lens camera and binoculars to see a closer look at flamingos and other migratory birds.
• Carry your official Identity Cards as they may be required during ticket verification.
• Visit early morning or late afternoon for experiencing the best views of the sanctuary.
• Book your boating rides ticket in advance.

Food And Accommodation

Thane region of Mumbai or the whole of Maharashtra is famous for its street food. The famous street foods to must try during your trip to Mumbai are Diamond Cake, Dabeli, Pani Puri, Vada Pao, Chai, Bhaji, Misalpav, Pav Bhaji, Sheera, Chiwda, and others.

Some of the famous food places serving delicious delicacies include the Mercury Wine Dine, The Hill Garden, Family Tree, Kung Food, and others. 

Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary has a lot of budget-friendly to luxurious hotels. Among the wide variety of hotels, some of the best accommodations include the Sapphire Boutique Hotel, Platinum Hotel, FabHotel Radana, Vista Inn, Suyog Residency, Pali Village Resort, The Myriad Hotel, and many others.

It is advised to book the hotel rooms in advance as it is a touristic location with a huge rush all around the year.

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