Tips My Travel

Place:       Kanchipuram District, Tamilnadu
Main attraction:  Migratory Birds

Best time to visit: November to April
Entry Time: 6 am to 6 pm


Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary with a 30 hectre wide lake is located in the Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu. 30,000 birds from various countries like Siberia, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka migrate here after the monsoon. The sanctuary is about 75 km from Chennai on National Highway 45 south of Chengalpattu.

The oldest bird sanctuary in India, it has been in existence for more than 200 years. The area was a favourite hunting reserve for the local landlords. Vedanthangal was originally protected since 1798 by the locals. In 1936, the area was notified as a sanctuary, and in 1962, the Madras Forest Act legally accorded the status of a reserve forest to Vedanthangal. Ten years later, in 1972 it was upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act.

The region attracted a variety of birds because it was dotted with small lakes that acted as feeding grounds for the birds. A grove of Barringtonia and Acacia Nilotica trees in a tank form part of the sanctuary. In addition dry evergreen scrub and thorn forests can also be seen.

Breeding birds like Great cormorant, Egrets, Grey and Purple heron, Painted stork, Open- billed stork, darter, Asian openbill, Eurasian spoonbill, While Ibis, Night Herons, Spot billed pelican, Grebes, Grey Pelican etc visit the sanctuary. The population of migratory birds included Garganey Teals, Shovellers, Pintails, Stilts, Sandpipers etc. December - January is the best season to watch these birds.

Some of the resident birds listed are White-breasted Kingfisher, Coots and Moorhen, Terns. In all 115 species of birds have been recorded in the this sanctuary. A very well-maintained sanctuary, one can watch the birds from the observation tower on the edge of the water. Binoculars affixed to these tower. One can walk along a shaded raised path along the bank of the lake to see the nesting colonies of birds. About 10,000 - 30,000 birds are estimated to arrive at the beginning of the breeding season.



Besides birds, there are mammals seen here like Jackal, Jungle Cat, Wild Boar, Black-naped Hare etc.

Entry Fee: Rs. 5, Camera fee Rs. 25, Video-camera fee Rs. 150 Open: Daily 6-6; Freelance Naturalist guides are also available.

How to Reach

Air: Chennai - 58 km away

Rail: Chengalpattu - 30 km away

Road: Regular buses from Chennai, Tambaram and Chengalpattu. Route from Chennai - Take NH45 to Chengalpet (35km)- Continue to Padalam Jn- Turn Right to the Sanctuary Road-. From Chengalpattu Old Bus Stand buses are available every hour to reach Vedanthangal Sanctuary (12km). The sanctuary can also be reached from Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram.