Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary , Thane Overview

Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Thane District. It is one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra and accommodates a wide range of rare species, both flora and fauna. The wildlife sanctuary is spread across 320 square kilometres in Shahpur, Wada, Mokhada and Talukas that come under the district of Thane. This attraction is truly a must-visit for those who are interested in wildlife and conservation.

Visitors often spend 1-2 hours exploring the Tansa trails while taking a good look at the range of wildlife here, often identifying the different species of birds, animals and plants. This area covers the forests of Vaitarna, Khardi and Shahpur and the Tansa Lake covers quite a lot of ground in this region, making it a good source of water for the wildlife at this sanctuary since it has a capacity to store over 3 million gallons of water. All in all, this place is a paradise for birdwatchers and animal lovers and is definitely worth a visit when looking for a peaceful getaway from the daily hectic schedules in cities.

Entry Details

Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary is open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on all days. However, for those who want to explore the Tansa Trail, the pickup time for the tour is 7:00 AM and drop time is 12:00 PM. There is no entry fee for this attraction as such. However, tours for the Tansa Nature Trail start from INR 650. This includes entry to the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, transportation to and from Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, expertise charges and refreshments. Camera and food charges are separate.

Things to See and Do

When at Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, visitors are often recommended to visit nearby attractions and destinations.

Firstly, the Tansa Lake is quite a famous place to stop by. It is one of the largest lakes in Maharashtra with a capacity of storing over 3 million gallons of water. This lake also passes through the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary and is a good source of water for the species of flora and fauna here.
Fort of Mahuli is another famous attraction close to the sanctuary. It is located on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway and is the highest point in Thane, often being a popular trekking and hiking destination for rock climbers.
Additionally, the plateau of Suryamal is also a famous hilltop destination for visitors to stop at and take in the breathtaking views of the valleys and forests here.
What’s more, Mahadeo Temple at Tilsa is a famous Shiv Temple just a few kilometres from Thane and is a famous place of worship for people in this region.

Biodiversity

Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary’s vegetation includes Tectona grandis (Teak), Acacia Catechu (Khair), Adina Cordifolia (Hed), Terminalia Tomentosa (Ain), Mitragyna Parviflora (Kalamb), Bamboo is found here in patches and Pterocarpus marsupium (Bibla). The vegetation here is very close to the Southern tropical deciduous forest with forest density ranging between 0.5 to 0.8. As for fauna, the sanctuary homes around 50 species of animals and around 200 species of birds. These include Langur, Barking Deer, Panther, Hyena, Sambar, Mouse Deer, Chital, Four-horned Antelope, Jackal, Wild Boar, Shrikes, Hornbill, Woodpeckers, Orioles, Bayas, Bulbuls, Egrets, Crested Serpent Eagle, Lapwings, Paradise Flycatcher and many more.

Tips

Best time to visit this wildlife sanctuary is from November through May. This is the time when visitors will be able to see a good range of flora and fauna here.
This wildlife sanctuary is not so crowded so visitors can easily have a good time at any time of the day here.
Visitors are requested to wear loose or simple clothes that can blend well with the natural surrounding.
Visitors are requested to carry their own materials and amenities such as binoculars, trekking kit, water, first aid kit, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, hats/caps and cameras.
Visitors are requested to maintain silence when in the premises of the sanctuary
Visitors are kindly requested to keep this area clean.
Those who are a part of the Tansa Nature Trail tour are requested to follow the instructions of the guide and not leave the group until the tour is complete.

How To Reach Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in Thane, this wildlife sanctuary is around 95 kilometres from Mumbai. The nearest airport is Mumbai Airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) which 81.4 kilometres away and it would take around 2 hours 30 minutes to reach the sanctuary if NH160 is taken. The closest railway station is Atgaon Central railway which is around 13 kilometres away from the Sanctuary. Visitors can take a cab, taxi or a local bus from the city, airport or the railway station to Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary. What’s more, visitors can access this attraction from Shahpur Town which is located on NH 3 (Mumbai-Agra National Highway).