Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary : Part 2 : What do you get to see?

I have split this travelogue to Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary into 2 parts - Part 1 : Getting there and Part 2: What you can see there. This is Part 2

Part 2: What you can see there

The bird sanctuary is essentially a large lake (about 30 acres) with trees (mangrove type). The best season to visit is Nov - Mar . I went in Dec 26th and there were thousands of birds. (How to get to Vedanthangal bird sanctuary: Part 1)

 Essentially, you get to be in a long walkway around the lake (around 2~3 kms on either side of the entrance).

The birds are around 200 ~500 m away and on a clear day you wont have trouble seeing them. It is preferable to carry your telephoto lens or binoculars if you are keen on having a closer look.

There are two watch towers too from where you get to see the birds and the view is very scenic from there.

Water spout in the form of a bird (and when I captured it - looked like it was catching the man!!!)

Link to part 1 : How to get to Vedanthangal bird sanctuary

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Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary : Part 1 : A road trip guide with tips for those travelling from Chennai to Vedanthagal

I have split this travelogue to Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary into 2 parts - Part 1 : Getting there and Part 2: What you can see there

Part 1: A road trip guide with tips for those travelling from Chennai to Vedanthangal

The trip to Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is as interesting as the sanctuary itself. In this part I will cover 2 key parts - A)How to get there B) FOOD, Scheduling your visit and Logistics

A) How to get to Vedanthangal by road?

Distance from RA Puram (Generally considered 0 milestone as it is the center of the universe) to Vedanthangal - 75 kms

Take the GST road via Thambaram - Chingleput and when you are about 12-14 kms from Maduranthagam, you will see lots of boards pointing to Vedanthagal). Take a right and the road off the highway is pretty well paved too. Just so you know you are on the right track, I have excerpted the key boards and buildings close to the right turn - so you dont miss it.

About 12 kms from Maduranthagam - For those who do not know tamil prev board has English

Take right turn here

Well paved road throughout till Vedanthangal

You have arrived! if you see this board! - Go on for 2 kms

B)Timing your visit, FOOD and logistics:

If you leave early morning on a holiday (like 8 or 9 AM) you may want to do a "heavy" breakfast at Ananda Bhavan in Pallavaram or Balajee Bhavan in Chromepet (Both before Tambaram)

You will need about an hour or hour-and-a-half at the sanctuary (if you are not a avid bird (feathered type) watcher) - excluding Bajjee eating and Panan Kazhangu (Avicha or steamed and Raw)

The vertical stacks are panam kazhangu (Palm seeds steamed)

Then on your return , you can eat at the Mahindra City food plaza that has Archana and Dhaba express around 2 PM. There are no restraunts at Vedanthangal , just a few roadside shops.

The best season to visit Nov-Mar and the place is open 6 am to 6 pm.

More pics here

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Cochin - ferry ride and Photographs: A trip to Kerala

For Rs 50 / person this ferry ride for about 2 hrs is one of the best ways to see the city scape of Cochin

The best time to go is around 5-6 PM and watch the sunset and the lights appear (a tip from our tourist taxi operator which was very useful)

They play nice music too on the ferry!

They show you the Cochin shipyard too. The ferry begins off MG Road.

Here are some photos (and some tips on taking night city scapes)

To photograph night city scapes - under expose your photos by 2~3 notches (I learnt it at Cochin!)

A Barge that we overtook

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Moments of awareness: Taking photographs of water - especially water falls

Photography tip:
I found that several times its important to give the feeling of flow. This can be achieved by increasing exposure a notch more than whats required giving the "flow" effect to water.Here is running water at three different exposures

One a more pensive note - its the same with life , giving things more time lets you see more things in flow :-)-

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Tall trees is a great place - review and photos

Where to stay in Munnar ?  I stayed at Tall trees and found it to be a great place



This is a very nice place. Nestled inside a near 70 acre forest greenery and a little away from the Munnar town (approx 4 km) 


They offer beautiful cottages that overlook a green forested hill side. The campus is tastefully done and the staff is helpful. Its very peaceful..... note that I did not say silent - the cicadas and birds and frogs go all day long but I am sure you dont mind it ;-). The cottages are well done and furnished / maintained well.

Reception

 They have a small shop that sells knick-knacks too - chips, ceigarettes et al.

 The  way to the restaurant

 Brooks inside the campus....

 Glass roof dining at the restraunt .... very nice ambience and very friendly staff

They have a restaurant "Hill spice" that served Buffet Dinner and Breakfast. Very unique setting with glass ceilings. The only downside is that you need to walk up a hill (by city people standards) about 300-600 m to reach the restaurant .... well it builds up an apetite

There are lots of things for the children to do too - TT/Carrom/Rock Climbing/Play area/Shuttle and for some grown up types too - Ayurveda , Fitness walk

They help you hire an auto or a car to to to town or sight seeing in Munnar respectively.

(PS: I even heard Edavapathi movie is being shot in Munnar when we were there. Wonder what the movie name means!)

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Prague: A visit in pictures : September - Beautiful end of summer photos

The place is a must visit again

201108_Prague

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Pantnagar to Haldwani: A very picturesque journey: Photos

You may also like to read my post on how to reach pantnagar from chennai

From 20110410_Pantnagar

From 20110410_Pantnagar

From 20110410_Pantnagar

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Santhome Marina Beach Chennai - Summer Fun

Thought we would be the only people at 4 PM on a Sunday afternoon - quite surprised to see so many in the beach side and in water

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

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Flowers: Photographs at Coonoor

From 201104_Conoor

From 201104_Conoor

From 201104_Conoor

From 201104_Conoor

From 201104_Conoor

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House Sparrow: Where are they?

I still remember in Chennai we used to have sparrows building nests inside our house and they used to create a racket in the front porch. Recently, we put up some rice grains in the front door and yet did not see a single sparrow come to eat it - Surprising that they are extinct in a span of 20 years.

From 201104_Conoor

After such a long time I saw them in Conoor , which raised this question - where are they in Chennai?

I realise that I am not the only one missing them.

HINDU 2003 Article

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How to photograph the evening sky? - My experience

The evening sky with its colour is fascinating. I have tried to get the color of the sky several times, but always got the color hues messed up with overexposure.

One of the tricks I learnt when photographing the sky, is to silhouette the other objects by choosing to under-expose. 2 to 3 points underxposure can produce good colour results in replicating the hues. Here are 2 pics

It is possible to get the same using exposure compensation in your camera, if it provides for the same. Please read this interesting article with references to Ansel Adams Zone system concept of dark and light as perceived by the eye

Exposed at 0

From 201104_Conoor

Exposed at -2 points

From 201104_Conoor

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