Little Bird

One little bird chirping on a tree

It looks like it's calling to me...

I look at the branch and try to see

Where the little bird could ever be?

It seems that it saw me looking

Through my window, where I was sitting

With the tea in hand which I was sipping

Without a blink to see him chirping.

This little bird kindled me to quest

 To leave my seat I usually rest...

Setting down my cup I felt a fest

The little bird which chirped its best.

Peering closer through the leaves 

I saw something red, blue and green!

It was the prettiest I must have ever seen

With a wink of my eye it flew off like a dream......

Pulicat Island, Tamil Nadu

The Island at Pulicat Lake

This little island of 5 acres lies in the brackish lagoon of The Pulicat Lake. A panoramic view of the island can be seen from the newly constructed bridge, which connects Pulicat (Pazhaverkadu) fishing village to the villages across the lake. A short ride by boat from the jetty of the village takes you to this hidden island which is fenced with barbed wire and sported with causarina trees. It is a perfect get away for picnickers to unwind under the shady trees with expanse of water all around. The small brick cabins and the ancient tiny temple on this island gives us a holistic experience of being marooned for a day on this lush vegetated land.

How To Reach 

The closest city is Chennai, Tamil Nadu which is well connected by rail, air and road.

 To reach this island from Chennai , drive on the NH5 via Nellore- turn towards Ponneri after the toll before Nellore. About 18kms from Ponneri lies Pulicat village. The vehicles can be parked at the car park and a 10min ride by boat would take us to this exotic island.

The best way to unwind on this island is to take a walk, in the waters of the shores around the island, collecting shells and watching the water birds. The afternoons can be spent with a nap under the trees, relishing the packed food and playing a game of frisbie or throwball with family and friends. A boat ride around the lake to spot aquatic birds, or trying a hand with fishing can be ideally done during the evenings before heading back to Pulicat village to reach back home. For the fish eaters the evening fish market in the village is a favoured place to buy fresh fish and prawns to take back home.

A brief note about Pulicate Lake

Pulicat Lake is situated on the coastal border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, on the Coromandal Coast in South India. The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal. Three major rivers, Arani, Kalangi and Swarnamukhi and small streams feed this lagoon which is the second largest in India. The average area of water spread, is about 350 sq. km. and the average depth of water is about 1 m.  The lake is home to a variety of flora and fauna. Migratory birds like the flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills, ducks and herons visit this lake during monsoons.

The sandy barrier islands of Irkam and Venad and smaller islands in the north are aligned north–south and divide the lagoon into eastern and western sectors. The morphology of the lagoons is categorized under four types with large areas under mudflats and sandflats

The fishing village of Pulicat is at the south end of the lake.

Dugarājupatnam and Sullurpeta are two important towns on the periphery of the lagoon.

Climate of the lagoon coast line is dominated by Tropical monsoons. Air temperature varies from 15 °C (59 °F) to 45 °C (113 °F). It is ideal to dress in comfortable cotton clothes and take enough precautions from sun tan.

Note - These pictures are copy write of my son 

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Masinagudi, Tamil Nadu

It had been a while since we went on a vacation. Son's board exams, admissions, uninterrupted semesters and so on and so forth, and we needed to retreat for at least a few days...somewhere, away from the traffic , congestion and pollution....and all fingers pointed to MASINAGUDI.

A short break into this wilderness began with a breath taking journey through highways, ghat roads and vast forest lands.

The Drive Through The Forest Area

The journey of 132km from Salem was unassuming, boring on the NH7 but quickly transformed to an entirely different one, of scenic ghats once we turned towards Satyamangalam. The trees on either sides of the roads, with their wide branches spread out, blocked the summer skies and made the drive a pleasant one.

As we crossed Chamaraj nagar the road, resembling a winding staircase with 36 hairpin bends takes us to an altitude of 950 metres and we hit a small hill town, Asanur. From here the  like a kaleidoscope we are in the midst of lush green meadows and dense forests, the entry to the forest area of Bandipur Reserves.

Herds of deer are commonly sighted all around on the greens, oblivious to the tourists stopping to take pictures of them. Curious monkeys peer into the cars expecting a small snack to be shared. Alighting from the vehicle or feeding animals is strictly prohibited on these roads. Adjacent to The Bandipur Reserves is The Mudumalai Sanctuary, from were one turns left and crosses an iron bridge to Masinagudi, a small town beholding numerous resorts varying from luxury cottages to budget stays.

Our stay was booked at Wild Woods Haven Resorts, which was extremely decent and comfortable with a large balcony overlooking the hills. The serene atmosphere, the breeze constantly blowing and the tiny birds flying with all their might with the wind are memories that linger on forever.

Wild Woods Haven Resort

Things To Do At Masinagudi

 Safaris:

The National Park,  Mudumalai organizes van safaris into the virgin lands of the sanctuary areas, (Timings: 6:30 – 8.30 a.m./3 to 6 p.m). Its a 45 minutes to an hours ride and spotting wild bison, spotted deer, bear, or a boar is common. Alternatively, one can tour the jungle on an elephant, on the off beaten tracks.

Elephant Camp:

A visit to the elephant camp is worth it if one wishes to see the elephants at close proximity. It houses around 29 elephants which are cared and trained. One can see these huge mammals being bathed and fed here.

Night Safari:

There are numerous vans at the town area which can be hired for a night safari. This is one of the best event at Masinagudi,- travelling in an open van into complete darkness to sight wild animals roaming freely in their, home lands. If ones adrenal can digest the thrill it is an adventure to experience.

Wild Bison

Sambar Deer

Treks:

The resorts organize treks around areas close to streams where the animals frequent in the evenings. On these treks one can sight colorful birds, and animals like langurs, deer, rabbits and boars. If one is lucky one may even sight an elephant, who is on its way to quench its thirst. And one is considered even luckier if he can  reach the resort safety back after seeing one.

The Peacock

Family of Langur

The Stag with Deer

The Nilgiri Langur

The Stag

A Brief Note On Mudumalai

 The Mudumalai Sanctuary is strategically situated within the protected areas of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. To the north of Mudumalai is the Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park. Towards the west lies the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and in the south the Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley National Park. The east holds the Sigur Plateau, that connects the Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary and Biligirirangan Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. These sanctuaries and forests cover an area of 3,300 square kilometers of forest, and is the habitat of 1800–2300 elephants. It is estimated that there are around 48 tigers in the Nilgiri Reserve which roam freely. In April 2007, the Tamil Nadu  government declared Mudumalai as a Tiger Reserve and is taking all measures in preserving the wildlife in this area.

Note -The pictures are clicked by my son and are copyright.

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