KOONTHAKULAM

        

   

                                                             We started our journey to Koonthakulam at 6am last Sunday from Trivandrum in two cars, with seven members of two families .

Road route -- Trivandrum -- Vadassery-- Kavalkinar-- Nanguneri --- Moolakkarapatti--- Koonthakulam (thirunelveli Dist; Tamilnadu )

More than 120 Kms .Reached there at 9.30 am .We met Mr Bal pandyan (arranged by Sri. Sreekumar ,my superior officer) ,a man who love birds more than his life. sharing his experience and walking through the  village seeing different variety of birds including Painted stork, pelican,Flamingo etc was a great experience in my life.

                                                            We spent almost 5 hrs of time there. Mr Pandyan showed some awards received by him from different organizations. By 2.30pm we started To Kanyakumari and stayed there at a cottage in Vivekananda Kendra,Kanyakumari. 

                                                     Vivekananda Kendra, a Spiritually-oriented Service Mission, headquartered at Kanyakumari was founded in 1972 by Mananeeya Shri Eknathji Ranade as a logical sequel to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, situated off Kanyakumari. Dedicated to the task of National Regeration as envisaged by the patriot-Saint, Swami Vivekananda, the Kendra currently works in twenty-one states through 225 branch centers and Projects. Ever since its inception, it has undertaken a number of service activities in  inida.

                                           Next day we visited Vattakottai and uppalam( Salt Factory) ,started our return journey by 3.30 evening. 

                   Koonthakulam

At Koonthakulam Bird Sanctuary in Thirunelveli Dist of Tamil nadu, birds are part of the everyday life of the people in the village. The sanctuary attracts different varieties of migratory birds including the flamingo and bar headed geese from Siberia and Germany. But despite the people’s passion for birds, the sanctuary is a safe haven for the winged visitors.Birds have taken refuge in Koonthakulam for more than 150 years.

And for good reason: the villagers of Koonthakulam take great joy in the birds’ presence. They treat them like guests and pay careful attention not to disturb them. Bal  Pandyan,the watcher of the sanctuary Pays most attention to birds

Entrance of koonthakulam bird sanctury

Mr Bal pandyan (with binoculars ) explaning 

                about birds

Watch tower

No water in the lake and no birds to watch

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Painted stroks in large numbers 

Just above our head

 

Pelicans in their nests

Eggs layed by 

         Little Ringed Plover 

 The Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) is a small bird. Adults have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes with white above and a short dark bill. The legs are flesh-coloured and the toes are all webbed.

Their breeding habitat is open gravel areas near freshwater, including gravel pits, islands and river edges . They nest on the ground on stones with little or no plant growth. Both male and female take turn to incubate the eggs.

Mr. Bal pandyan inside his room

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 A Pelican chick

Mr. Bal pandyan feeding a Pelican 

                      Peacock- inside Vivekananda Kendra


Vivekananda Kendra is a Hindu spiritual organisation based on the principles preached bySwamy vivekananda . It was founded on 7 th January 1972 in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India by Shri Ekanathji Ranade.

                                    Samadhi of 

              Eknathji Ramkrishna Ranade

                            
               Indian social and spiritual reformer

View from one end of Vivekananda Kendra

                                                     Inside of
                   Vattakottai  (or 'Circular Fort')

               It was built in the 18th century as a coastal defence-fortification  and  barracks in the erstwhile Travancore kingdom.

The fort is made of granite blocks and, today, a part of the fort extends into the sea. It is a protected site under the Indian archaeological department. A major renovation of the fort has been undertaken recently by the department, and the site is now a popular tourist spot.                                         

Uppalam, kanyakumari

Salt is separated from seawater