Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary

We came across this amazing place by accident. On one trip to Mysore during our courtship days we were on the way to Brindavan Gardens and spotted birds on the road. It was a group of peasants or so. It was quite odd to see a group of birds on Indian roads. And this was no forest route. And later in the near by fields we spotted more birds. And then on our right we say this one of a kind Bus stop . Indian villages barely have proper bus stops let alone such a cute and pretty one. It was the best I have ever seen. It was a concrete blue structure with statues of birds on top. Right after the bus stop there winded a road towards the right and the road was mounted by an arc of the same pattern and it said the entrance to "Ranganthittu bird sanctuary".

I have come across many wild life and bird sanctuary in my life and in most of them you spot something if you are lucky enough. This one was welcoming and so we changed our plans and decided to visit this place instead. I didn't expect to see any birds. But what I saw was something I have seen is something I had seen only in the discovery channel.

The sanctuary was around this group of islands formed in the Kaveri river and there were hundreds of thousands of birds flocked together in these islands. These were breeding grounds for a large number of migratory birds. This place is a bird watchers and photographers haven. This trip was supposed to be included along with our Mysore trip but this is too good . Good enough to deserve a separate post.

THE RANGANTHITTU BUS STOP

THE ENTRANCE TO THE SANCTUARY ROAD

A POND IN THE SANCTUARY GARDENS

THE HANGING BRIDGE AND THE WALKWAY IN THE SANCTUARY GARDENS

MORE STATUES! BIRD ISLAND IN THE SANCTUARY GARDENS

VIEW OF THE SANCTUARY FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Boating is the main attraction in the sanctuary. Tourists are taken extremely near the birds in boats and the birds are quite used to the admirers that they are least bothered and go about with their business. The islands and the waters are also inhabited by crocodiles and tortoises. Its a thriving ecosystem.

PICS FROM THE BOAT

BREEDING ON THE ROCKS

FLYERS

CROCODILES BASKING IN THE SUN