Pulicat Lake

Time - 4 to 6 hours
Distance - 240 Kms
Cost - Petrol,  car at 10 Km to a litre - Rs 1200/-
Month of Visit - Nov 2008

How to Get There - 
Pulicat is India's second largest Lagoon, the entire Pulicat lake is shallow and has an average depth of about 3.5 feet, many areas are just a few inches in depth. The easy way to reach pulicat is to take the Nellore Highway leading to Thirupathi. Pulicat is a long lake, about 70 Kms in length and therefore one can get into the lake area at any point. We will for the sake of this entry look at Pulicat from the entry point of Sulurpet which is about 95 kms from Chennai. Not many places where you can stop for a quick breakfast or a meal. The drive to Sulurpet from Chennai is enjoyable, the road is very good and there are enough signs to lead you direct to Sulurpet. 


At Pulicat - 


From the highway take a right turn into Sulurpet Town, the road leads straight to Pulicat Lake, if you have doubts on which road to take do ask someone for directions. Within a few Kms you will pass through fields to your right and then the marshland starts. Pulicat information centre is on the main road and adjacent to the centre is a road on the right side, this is a mud road and leads to a village called Venaad. The road has been laid to connect Sulurpet to the island of Venaad. This road is about 10 Kms in length and is all ups and downs. However if you have a vehicle that can be navigated on this road, then you are presented with a huge and unique opportunity to spot a lot of birds and activity. On this road the wildlife department has constructed watchtowers, do make use of them. Remember that Flamingos need shallow water not more than a few inches to get their food.


However, if you decide to proceed on the main road rather than risk your vehicle on this mud road, you still have huge opportunities to spot many birds. The main road which cuts through the pulicat lake has been laid to connect Sriharikota to Sulurpet. Both sides of this road are marshlands where you can spot a number of birds during the migratory season. Greater Flamnigos, Pelicans (not so common), painted Storks, Herons, Egrets, Falcons and more. On this road one can spot benches, I suggest a few minutes to rest, experience the serene and calm environment. Maybe even longer if you like. 

Veerabadrasamy Temple at Hanumanthapuram

Time - 3 to 6 hours
Distance - 120 Kms
Cost - Petrol,  car at 10 Km to a litre - Rs 600/-
Month of Visit - Dec 2008


How to Get There - 


Get on to the National Highway going South, towards Trichy, Dindigul. Cross Vandalur Zoo and keep going till you reach Singaperumalkoil. This is a town on the highway. At Singaperumalkoil look for a turning to the left towards the East. If in doubt and you are not able to spot the Road signs ask for direction to Hanumanthapuram. Once onto the road leading to Hanumanthapuram keep going for 10 Kms till you reach this little village. The drive from Singaperumalkoil to Hanumanthapuram is nice and through reserve forests. If you are a shutterbug keep your camera ready for sceneries, birds, landscapes. This short drive of 10 Kms is very relaxing and nice and one must drive slowly though there is no traffic to really enjoy oneself. Once you enter Hanumanthapuram the road will take a curve to the right and soon after on the right is the road leading to the temple. The road can be easily identified as one can see the temple and also the crowd of people.

Once you are there - 


Walk around the temple tank which is opposite the temple. Get down the steps sit for a little while and enjoy the surroundings. Opposite the temple you will also find a banyan tree under which is a shrine, a small shelter has been constructed to protest the snake idols. The short walk into the temple has shops on its left side. It is believed that the temple helps in healing the mentally ill, you will find them in and around the temple, they are harmless and many of them stay there. You can expect a few scenes and loud shouts but this is nothing to be afraid of.

The idol in the Sanctum Sanctorum is large and the moustache impressive. The temple precints are fairly clean and one can see the mentally ill moving around the temple. A few beggars are found inside the temple. Though the temple seems to attract a few people and is well known in and around there is no evidence of commercialisation. car parking is free and I did not notice anyone buying a ticket to enter the temple, there are no long queues.

I was not able to buy a book on the history of the temple as it was sold out.

Pudupakkam - Anjeneyar Temple

Time required - 3 Hours

Total distance  - 115 Kms

Cost - Petrol,  car at 10 Km to a litre - Rs 575/-

Month visited - Dec 2008

How to get there - 

At the Vandalur Zoo take the road leading to Kelambakkam, proceed for 15 Kms and you will reach Pudupakkam. On this road you will pass TN Police academy, Shasun Drugs and Chemicals Research unit. At around the 15th Km mark you will notice a Anjaneyar statue on the left side of the road (assuming you are travelling from West to East) turn left at the statue and the entrance to the temple is about 200 metres from the road.

At the location - 

You can either climb the steps leading to the temple or take the road leading to the temple. This road is concrete and recently laid. A tar road has been laid around the hill and on the eastern side of the hill you will find the concrete road going up to the temple.

The shrine to Anjenayar is a small shack. Anjenayar is not a stan alone idol here but a carving on a rock. Anjeneyar has been painted with vivid colours and has one foot on the ground and one foot in the air, his head turns to the North, body to the East, one hand holds a weapon / hill and the other in a posture of blessing.

It seems that Anjenayar on his way to Srilanka stopped here for some rest.

A proper temple (concrete) is under construction and in a few years this temple will be made popular (thanks to Rajnikanth's visit to this temple) with lots of visitors and the result will be the loss of serenity and peace which the shrine now enjoys. Alongwith crowds come touots, car parking problems, commercial establishments.......... 

On top there is a stone structure painted red and white (horisontal stripes). This seems to be for lighting fires, which obviously be seen for miles around.

Thanks to thick vegetation the hill is home to birds and offers a pleasant experience. One can park the vehicle on the road, and walk around to get a feel of the calmness and the environment.