About Sewri Flamingo Point
Sewri Flamingo Point is one of the most vibrant urban wildlife spots in Mumbai, offering a spectacular natural display amidst the city's heavy industrial shoreline. Every year, between November and May, the expansive mudflats of Sewri transform into a sea of pink as tens of thousands of migratory flamingos arrive from the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and as far as East Africa and Iran.
The area consists of extensive mudflats rich in blue-green algae, tiny crustaceans, and marine life, providing an abundant food supply for both Lesser Flamingos (distinguished by their deeper pink plumage and dark red bill) and Greater Flamingos (taller with paler feathers and a pink, black-tipped bill). Alongside flamingos, birdwatchers can spot numerous other migratory avian species such as mudskippers, sandpipers, plovers, herons, egrets, and swallows.
Visitors typically gather near the Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) jetty during low tide, when the mudflats are exposed and birds feed close to the shore. It is a haven for nature photographers, conservationists, and urbanites seeking an escape into nature.
History
Historically, the area around Sewri was a quiet fishing village and salt-pan region. In the late 17th century, the British East India Company constructed the nearby Sewri Fort in 1680 on a high hill overlooking the Mumbai harbour. The fort served as a watchtower to protect the island of Bombay against coastal raids by the Sidis of Janjira and the Marathas.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, as Bombay grew into a major shipping port, the land was managed primarily by the Bombay Port Trust (now Mumbai Port Trust). Industrial activities, timber yards, and petroleum storage facilities were established around the Sewri mudflats. Despite heavy industrialization, the unique tidal mudflat ecosystem persisted and became a critical feeding ground for coastal birds.
In recent years, ecological awareness and conservation efforts have drawn national attention to the mudflats, especially with the construction of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL / Atal Setu), which was specifically engineered with noise barriers and environmental safeguards to minimize disturbance to the flamingo habitat.