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Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary
Vedanthangal bird sanctuary is one of the oldest in India and the smallest in size (approx.30hecters) but attracts lot of tourists every season and also has got unique history. The farmers of course local people protected the lake sanctuary for centuries now because they have realized that the birds droppings falling into the lake increases the nitrogen value in the water and the water is used for agriculture, which results in good crops that too without spending money on fertilizers.
The lake is spread over about 30 hecters and every season almost 30-40 thousand birds come here (most of the birds migrate from Australia and Siberia; remember these birds fly nearly 10000-15000 miles without stop…). And at the end of the season they return with their new born. Nesting and breeding are main activities of birds in Vedanthangal.
Really one can enjoy the stay at Vedanthangal while watching the behaviour of the birds right from the building of nests, breeding, feeding, drinking, flying around the lake..It’s a pleasure to watch the birds busy in these activities.
How to reach Vedanthangal: The road is the only connectivity to vedanthangal and there is no straight public transport (buses) available from Chennai. But you have buses from Chengalpat (the district head). But I preferred my Thunder Bird bike. Because I spend every weekend in Vedeanthangal from mid Jan-mid Feb. The journey takes only one hour to reach Vedanthangal. Even a car is preferable.
Location: Vedanthangal is exactly 82 kms from Chennai, 34 kms from chengalpat, 45 kms from Mahabalipuram towards the south west by NH45.
Best Time to Visit: November- February (based on the monsoon sometimes the season will end at March. But the ideal season is second week of Jan till the second week of Feb (please avoid the festival holidays on Jan second week).
If you are a nature lover, bird watcher, photographer or else need to spend time in some peaceful natural surroundings, Vedanthangal is the ideal place to chill out.
You must be there at 6 in the mornings (i.e.) sunrise time, because 6-9 AM is the right time to see the birds in large numbers; after that the birds stay away from the lake to head to search for their food. One can also see the birds in the nearby paddy fields. Evening 4-6 PM is also the ideal time to see the birds while they return to their nests.
Accommodation: Since Vedanthangal is only a day long trip one hardly needs any guesthouse or lodge. But if you want to stay over night at Vedeanthangal, the Tamil Nadu government forest guest/rest house is available, but you have to book the guesthouse well in advance at Chennai Office mentioned below.
WILDLIFE WARDEN,
259, ANNA SALAI, D.M.S. COMPOUND,
TEYNAMPET,
CHENNAI 600006
PH- 91 44 24321471
Thank You… and Happy Bird Watching …
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