Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Timings, Photos, Ticket, Location

It can be a different sort of joy to enjoy nature at its best and what can be better than seeing the birds fly and chirping on top of it? If you are a person who enjoys a scene like this then you cannot miss visiting the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. Furthermore the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu is one of the richest bird sanctuaries in India and this is also one of the most popular tourist spots in Tamil Nadu as well.

So if you are ever visiting here and if you are a nature lover you must include this location as a part of your itinerary. The lush vegetation here along with the huge variety of bird species is surely going to be your mood uplifter. Keep on reading this article as I will mention every information that you might need about the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. It would be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip to this beautiful sanctuary.

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is located in which state?

The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is located in the state of Tamil Nadu, Chengalpattu District in Madurantakam Taluk.

Timings: 6 am to 6 pm on all days

Entry fee: The entry fee is Rs. 25 for adults, for children it is Rs.25. There is additional Rs. 25 charge for camera and Rs. 10 for parking.

How to reach Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

By air

If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport is the Chennai International Airport which is located at a distance of 65 km from the sanctuary.

By train

The nearest railway station to reach Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is Chengalpattu Station which is 26 km away from the sanctuary.

By road

You can also drive through or take private buses from the nearby locations to reach the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. The nearest bus stop is Chengalpattu Old Bus Stand which is around 25 km away from this sanctuary.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit is from November to March. Ideally this period is the migratory period and if you visit the sanctuary during this time you would be able to witness the maximum number of birds here. Furthermore during this time you will also be able to enjoy witnessing the birds building their nests as well.

Overview of Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

Spread across an area of 74 acres this is a protected area located 75 km away from Chennai on the National Highway 45. The richness of this sanctuary lies in the fact that almost more than 40, 000 birds visit this sanctuary during the migratory season every year from various parts of the world. Also around 26 species of rare birds are also spotted here amongst other birds.

Furthermore this is also one of the oldest water bird sanctuaries in India. In Tamil Vedanthangal means the hamlet of the hunter and it is named so for a specific reason. Many years earlier this location was a favourite hunting spot of the local landlords around 18^th century. Because the area is surrounded by many small lakes it acted as a ground for the birds for their feeding.

However the British Government soon understood the importance of this area and therefore in 1798 steps were taken to convert this area into a bird sanctuary. Formally in 1858 the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary was established by the Collector of Chengalpattu. Later in 1936 finally this park was declared a sanctuary. On 8^th July 1988 this protected area was declared as the Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary.

Birds in Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

Thousands of birds are seen here in this sanctuary and it would be one of the most interesting things here. Some of the commonly found birds here are Darters, Cormorants, Large Egrets, Little Egrets, and Night Herons. Also Grebes, Moorhens, Paddy Birds, Pintails, Painting Storks, Sandpipers, Shovellers, White Ibis, Pond Herons etc are seen here. Some of the migratory birds seen here are Snake Birds and Gloss Ibises from Sri Lanka. Along with that Garganeys and Teals from Canada, Grey Pelicans from Australia, Painted Storks from Siberia are also spotted here. You can also find Open billed Stork from Bangladesh, Spoonbills from Burma and more.

Vedanthangal Lake

Located 122 metres above sea level, the Vedanthangal Lake is one of the important sources for water in the area. It supplies almost 250 acres of water to the neighboring area. This lake is bordered by a long bund on the southern side. And on the north and the eastern sides there are agricultural lands surrounding it. Furthermore the depth of the lake is about 5 meters.

Conservation in Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

The government of Tamil Nadu has taken various measures to protect this area. The Public Works Departments have built water channels to facilitate the water supply in the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. This sanctuary had a compact grove of around 500 Barringtonia trees and in 1973 additionally 100 trees more were planted. Later in 1996, 1000 more trees were planted. Furthermore in 2013 around 2 lakhs of Barringtonia saplings were planted in the sanctuary for the breeding of animals. Along with that even the Vedanthangal Lake was deepened so that it can hold more water.

Where to stay near Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

You can find good quality AC rooms at the Forest Guest House at a decent price range. However you will have to make a prior booking for that from the Wildlife Warden Office in Chennai or from the Ranger Office in Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. Furthermore you can get some options for hotels and resorts near the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. Some of the hotels that you can check out nearby are S M J Grand Hotel and Mahal, Welcome Hotel by ITC, G B Residency, Oxyville, Blue Moon Guesthouse, M W C Club by Downtown, Hotel Akshay Grand, Fairfield by Marriott Chennai Mahindra World City etc.

Things to remember while visiting

· Make sure that your activities do not hurt or disturb the birds in the sanctuary. Take extra care and be conscious as hurting the birds is a criminal offence.

· You can take binoculars from the counter in the sanctuary for bird watching from the watchtowers here.

· During the weekend the place can become a little too crowded. Be ready to face a lot of crowds if you are visiting on weekends. Furthermore to avoid the crowd you can even visit during weekdays when the sanctuary is less crowded.

· You can hire specialized tour guides from the interpretation centre in the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. By doing this you will be able to get more insight on the variety of birds here or gather more knowledge about the location in general.

· You can grab some quick snacks or food from outside the sanctuary for some refreshment.

Wrapping Up!

If you are interested in visiting a specially designated area for the birds then nothing can be better than visiting the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. It can be a delight to watch the variety of bird species here in their most natural habitat. So whenever you are in Tamil Nadu just make sure you are adding this Bird Sanctuary in your itinerary. Also just check out the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary photos and you will know why exactly you need to visit here.

Furthermore a location like this can be a total treat for nature and birds lovers. Birdwatchers are surely going to enjoy this experience of visiting this place a lot. Let me know if this particular article on the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is helpful for you. And don’t forget to tell me when you are visiting this beautiful and rich bird sanctuary.

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