Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary : The oldest bird sanctuary in India

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary:

Located in the Kancheepuram District in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The sanctuary is about 75 kilometres from Chennai on National Highway 45, south of Chengalpattu.

View of Vedanthangal bird sanctuary from one of bird watching tower

Away from the chaos of the city, the Vedanthangal village means ''Hamlet of the Hunters'' has this birds sanctuary. Though the Sanctuary is own by the government body, villagers care for the birds differently. They do not use fire cracker during Diwali to welcome the winter migrants to the sanctuary. Apart from this interesting fact villagers have taken many steps to avoid disturbance to the flow of birds in the sanctuary.

A  group of spot-billed pelicans perching on the tree very near to watching tower 

The sanctuary attracts a maximum of 40,000 birds (including 26 rare species) during the winter month. The most common are cormorants, large egrets, little egrets, moorhens, night herons, paddy birds, painted storks, pintails, pond herons, sandpipers, shovellers, terns, white ibises and many more.

Spot-billed pelicans having a gentle move in water for morning breakfast  

The  Sanctuary features thousands of birds coming from various countries. They are garganeys and teals from Canada, snake birds and glossy ibises from Sri Lanka, grey pelicans from Australia, grey herons and open-billed stork from Bangladesh, painted storks from Siberia, spoonbills from Burma and the spot-billed duck. Some of the survey and internet reports confirm that there are between 10,000 to 20,000 birds per season, resting, sheltering and breeding on what are apparently 2,000 partially-submerged trees.

 Spot-billed pelicans: The frozen moment 

I could encounter very limited of them during my last visit to the sanctuary during the month of October. Grey pelicans, cormorants, large egrets, little egrets, painted storks and glossy ibises can be easily seen while walking around the lane made around the sanctuary area. Though the lane is very limited to some area one can take binoculars to explore more bird. If you forget to take your own you can have one on rent which is easily available outside for tourists by vendors. 

Walking lane made around the sanctuary 

There is a number of birds watching towers in the sanctuary. The view from all the tower is mesmerising. The giant pelicans perching on the tree branches look amazing. The cormorants and Iribis are easily viewed with naked eyes from watching tower.  

The Barringtonia mangroves of the sanctuary create a floating habitat for a variety of migratory birds. Beyond the islands full of mangroves, Birds perch on the trees that line the banks and reach out to the water.

Pelican: The frozen moment 

How to reach the sanctuary :

Kancheepuram is well connected from Chennai but the best way to reach by public mode is to go Cengalpattu bus stop or railway station. From Cengalpattu bus stop buses are going to Sanctuary but bus frequency is very less. We planned to go by bus only but could not able to get it on time so my friend and I planned to take OLA rental.

Some Facts :

Why Birds travel ????

Birds are the world’s quintessential travellers, free to fly at a moment’s notice without carry-on or even a passport. Some cross hemispheres to meet a mate; others gather in stupendous flocks for the sake of a little company. And in a few corners of the Earth, like in Denali, birds create avian spectacles that make its own weather.

 Black-headed ibis: The frozen moment 

  About Sanctuary 

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is the oldest bird sanctuary in India. It is also one of the smallest in the country covering an area of just 74 acres. Vedanthangal’s wetlands of small lakes and water bodies rich in their unique ecosystem attracted a rich diversity of birds and still do today. Realizing Vedanthangal’s ornithological as well as ecological importance, the then British government took steps to develop it into a sanctuary for birds in 1798. Nearly 60 years later, the collector of Chingleput passed an order to establish it as a protected area.

Vedanthangal is close to the temple towns of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram and one can visit the sanctuary on the return journey from these towns.

Things to Do and know!

• Bird-watching is common practice here during the weekend for Chennaiker and you can spend a whole day without getting bored here.

• If you want a long drive from Chennai and finally the scenic view at outskirts away from the city for fresh air then this place is for you.

• Binoculars are must for bird watching if you own it or you can easily hire near to the sanctuary on a rental basis. 

• Best time to visit is from November to April.

• Timings: All days of the week, 08:00 am to 06:30 pm

• Entry fee: Rs. 5 per person for adults 

•  Camera charges: Rs. 25 per still camera & Rs. 50 per cam recorder. 

A  group of spot-billed pelicans perching on the trees

If one needs some information for special birds watching and group activities inside the sanctuary, the detail of contact provided below.  

Contact details :

Wildlife/ Forest Dept offices
Forest Department, Vedathangal,
Madurantakam,  Chennai. Tel: 044-22351471
Range OfficerVedanthangal
Tel: +914422200335044

Birds display and details just near  the sanctuary gate 

Thanks!
Much love from Muki & Camera 
Thanks to  Khileshwar Diwaker (Khillu)  for all your support during this trip :)