Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is the oldest Indian sanctuary for birds. The sight in the sanctuary in the evening time is exquisite and full of noise made by the birds. Many bird watchers visit this sanctuary. There are officials at the sanctuary, who helps in identifying the birds. In the year 1962, status of reserve forest was given legally as per the Madras Forest Act and after ten years the place was designated as a bird sanctuary.
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is one of the oldest water based bird sanctuaries of India. The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is 86 kilometers from Chennai city and covers an area of 72 acres. The total land of the sanctuary is marshy. The flora of the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is mainly dominated by Barringtonia Acacia nilotica tress. Thorn forests are also there in the sanctuary. There is a vast lake that makes it an ideal place for the birds to make it as their home. There are also 60 smaller ponds and pools in the bird sanctuary that provides water to the birds.
Visiting Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
The name of the bird sanctuary Vedanthangal means "place of hunter". Development of the area as a marshy bird sanctuary started from the British period. The sanctuary houses water birds like Grey Heron, Egrets, Darter, Open-billed Stork, White Ibis, Spoonbill, Grey Pelican, Cormmorants and Dabchicks. In the sanctuary about 115 species of birds are found. The nestling season of the birds is in the
month of October.
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The tourists are advised to visit the bird sanctuary in the early morning time or in the late evenings as in these times more birds can be seen.
The sanctuary is also home for many types of migratory birds. Birds from Siberia, Pakistan, Australia and Sri Lanka also come to the sanctuary. The migratory birds to the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary include Shovellers, Teals, Pintails, Sandpiper, Garganey. The migratory birds reside at the sanctuary till the month of February.
Accommodation at Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
The tourists to Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary can stay at the Forest Rest House, which is situated at Vedanthangal. Accommodation is also offered by P.W.D Rest House, which is situated at Karunguzhi. There is a viewing platform and a watch tower at the sanctuary that gives the facility to the tourists to view the birds in the best possible manner.
Location of Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is located at Vedanthangal Karikili of Kanchipuram district. The best time to visit the sanctuary is from October to March. The nearest airport to Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is Chennai airport which is 58 kilometers away from the sanctuary. The tourists can avail regular buses that are available from Tambaram, Chengalpattu and Chennai. The railway station that is located in close proximity to the bird sanctuary is Chengalpattu (30 kilometers from the sanctuary).
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