Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary

About:

During a stay at Thiruvarur, I was directed by the locals to Kodikkarai (Point Calimer). However, my mom said, “Let’s go to Muthuppettai Mangroves”. Hmm… Why notWhy to dump myself in Kodikkarai where everyone else does the same, when a lovely secret place is available. A road less travelled, that is Muthupettai (Muthupet) Mangroves. Now when I opted this, came the other option as well, from the locals, Udayamarthandapuram, a bird sanctuary.Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary is located in Tiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu and is about 15 km from Thiruthuraipoondi.

The route from Thiruvarur, took me to Udayamarthandapuram first. Taking a rented car, we started off. After crossing Thiruththuraippoondi, I started to look out for the forest range officer. Well, a visit to this Bird Sanctuary requires a prior permission from the forest range officer. So, we reached Udayamarthandapuram and crossed it as well. Hmm… Ok, let me be clear. The forest range officer’s office is near the Muthupet Busstand and Muthupet Bus stand is beyond the turn that has to be taken to reach Udayamarthandapuram. Like many other places like, this place also irritated me with its two bus stands - The old bus stand and the new bus stand. I was told that his office is near the bus stand without specifying new or old.

After a little bit of search, I found the officer and got the permission both for Udayamarthandapuram and Muthupet. The person in charge at the sanctuary premises was informed about our arrival. Then, a small drive back in the route we came and few more twists and turns and ahoy, here was Udayamarthandapuram! .Spread over 45 hectares, this sanctuary is home to little cormorant, darter, spoonbill, Indian reef heron, grey heron, white necked stork, little egret and pond heron.

Udayamarthandapuram was a typical village with a road just wide enough to fit a car perfectly, with roosters and hens and goats roaming all over, with village women doing their daily chores, with small eco friendly hut houses. Then there was a hoarding welcoming the visitors of the feathered companions, and there was a grill gate. As such the place didn’t look much like a sanctuary. We were then invited by the person in-charge there and were given binoculars. Then he took us inside, the place was just awesome.

After a 10km drive, we reached Muthupettai. I don’t know why, but it reminded me of MCC, Chennai. It was pretty similar, with the sun’s rays shying away. There was again this person in-charge and I met him. He wanted me to write a letter stating who we were and why where we there. I found it silly, still those were government requirement. So, I wrote on a sheet of paper borrowed from him, about who we were and that we were tourists and wanted a boat to have a trip of the mangrove. It was only later I found that, this place was very sensitive and had some religious clashes earlier. So everyone has to go through this process.

Then the officer found a boatman for us. He said the motorboat trip would be 650 bucks, and I was astonished. Then I made up my mind. I had come all the way from Thiruvarur and rented a car and there’s no point missing out on the boat ride. I paid him half. He informed me to buy few eatables, and question marks flew atop my head. Why, to reject this local person’s advice..??? With no shop in sight, I bought a dozen bananas. We then took off. It was like any other ride on a river. And after some time, I could feel the sea. The water became turbulent and the depth was hell. It was no more like a river, it was like sea, just sea.

Location info:

Climate/Weather:

summers: remains around 35°C.

Winter:remains around 10°C.

History:

Interesting things to do:

Interesting things to Visit:

Mobile range info:

How to reach?

Nearest Visiting places:

Sri Thiayagaraja Temple:
The Thiyagaraja temple at Thiruvarur is one of the ancient heritage sites of India and is a representation of the religio-socio-cultural history of the Tamil region for a period spanning over a millennium and a half. Little is known about this shrine to much of India. The vast temple complex today is truly a standing monument to centuries of history and tradition.

Sri Rajagopalaswamy Temple:
The Deity of Sri Aravamudan of Thirukkudanthai (Kumbakonam) has been sung by seven Alwars of Sri Vaishnavisam. When the four thousand (4000) Dhivyaprabandam of Alwars were in a forgotten state, it was only through the decade of ten verses praising Lord Amudan, Sriman Naadha Munigal revived the entire 4000 Verses. Hense this recling Lord Aravamuthan alias Sri Sarangapani Swami is known as Dravida Sruthi Darshala. In this town, there are also the deities of Lord Chakkarapani and Lord Rama in the Pattabishegam mode and many others.

Sri Murugan Temple:
The primary Deity of this temple is Palaniandavar. His image is carved in the likeness of the Deity of Palani Hills Temple in Southern India. He is the shaven headed renunciate yogin, whose Grace bestows knowledge of the deeper contemplative depths of Yoga and ultimately God-Realization.Now He has come to the West and resides in this spectacular valley where people come from all over the world for disciplined play or leela in the mountains.

Sri Kothandaramar Temple:
Those praying in this temple are blessed with high education and wisdom. Those desirous of going overseas for higher education visit this temple praying to achieve their aim. Artists aspiring name and fame and special skills seek the blessing of the lord of this temple. Couples separated due to some reason or other get united praying here. Employment opportunities, promotion in job are also the boons Sri Ramachandra ensures to the devotees.

Sri Saraswathi Temple:
Sri Saraswathi Temple is situated at Koothanur, It is around fifteen kilometers away from Mayiladuthurai, of Nagapattinam District of Tamilnadu, India. Tamil Nadu is famous for its beautiful temples, especially in and around the Tiruchi-Thanjavur belt. While some of these temples, such as the Navagraha temples and Vaitheeswarankoil temple are famous, there are hundreds of other temples, which are unique although not very popular.

Nearest Petrol Pump:

Petrol Pump:Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu,India

HP Petrol Pump:Karaikal,Pondicherry,Tamil Nadu,India

Sakkottai Petrol Pump:Srinivasa Nagar,Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

Hotesh Selvies:Kattukara Street Thiruvarur,Tamil Nadu,India,Ph:04366 222080

Poorna Hotel:Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu,India

Hotel Kaveri:Mannargudi, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu,India

Things to carry:

Tips & Suggestions:

Help Line/Phone Number:

Police Station:Mannargudi, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu,India

East Police Station:Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu,India

Nagai Hospital:3/134, Main Road,Nagappattinam, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu,IndiaPh:043 6524 1150

Anbu Hospital:4 & 5 Lakshmi Vilas Street,Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu,Ph:0435 2432266

Society/Community Phone Number:

Address of Forest Range Officer:C.G. Complex, Opp. New Bus Stand,Muthupet,Ph: 04369 – 262518

Address of Wildlife Warden:Collectorate, Nagappattinam,TN - 611002,Ph: 04365 - 253092

Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary