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Pulicat Lake is a vast, shallow brackish lagoon on the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, about 55 km north of Chennai. It is the second-largest brackish-water lagoon in India after Chilika, and its surface area swings between roughly 250 and 450 sq km with the tides and seasons. A long barrier island, Sriharikota – home of ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre – separates it from the Bay of Bengal.
The Tamil Nadu part of the lake around Pulicat town, known locally as Pazhaverkadu, was notified as the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary in 1980. The larger Andhra Pradesh side, around Sullurpeta and Nelapattu, is protected separately. For visitors coming from Pondicherry or Chennai, Pulicat village on the southern shore is the natural base.
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Birds and seasons
The lagoon’s mudflats, salt pans and shallow water attract large numbers of water birds. In winter, greater flamingos arrive in thousands – estimates of around 15,000 a year are often quoted – along with spot-billed pelicans, painted storks, herons, egrets, cormorants, terns, gulls and many small waders.
The main season runs from about November to March. Flamingo numbers are usually highest from mid-December to February, but they move around the lake depending on water levels and food, so a good morning in one year may not be repeated in the next. Resident birds such as herons, egrets and kingfishers can be seen all year.
Early morning is the best time for birding and photography: the birds are active, the light is soft and the water is calm. By late morning it gets hot and hazy over the flats.
Boat rides with local fishermen
Much of the birdlife is out on the lagoon, so the best way to see it is from a boat. There is no large government boat house; instead, fishing families in Pulicat village take visitors out in their motorised boats. Typical trips last two to three hours and can include the flamingo flats, small islands and the sandbars near the mouth of the lagoon. Rates are agreed directly with the boatmen before you set off.
Ask for life jackets and do not let the boat crowd or chase the birds – a good boatman will cut the engine and drift as you approach a flock. Boats may not go out in rough weather or during the north-east monsoon.
Dutch Pulicat
Pulicat was one of the earliest Dutch settlements in India. In the early 1600s the Dutch East India Company built Fort Geldria here, which became the centre of Dutch administration on the Coromandel Coast. Little of the fort survives, but the 17th-century Dutch cemetery, with its carved tombstones, is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and is worth a short stop. It makes a good addition to the birding morning if you enjoy colonial history, as in Pondicherry’s White Town or Tranquebar.
Practical tips
- Binoculars: essential – the flamingos often stand far out on the flats.
- Sun: there is no shade on the water; carry a hat, sunscreen and drinking water.
- Facilities: Pulicat is a working fishing town with only basic eateries. Carry snacks, or eat in Chennai or along the route.
- Respect the lagoon: do not leave plastic behind; the lake already suffers from silting and pollution.
- Weekdays: weekends bring day-trippers from Chennai; weekday mornings are quieter.
Visiting from Pondicherry
Pulicat is roughly 210 km from Pondicherry, about 4.5–5 hours by car along the East Coast Road and around Chennai. To be on the water at dawn, stay the night in Chennai or along the northern edge of the city. Our Pulicat and Mahabalipuram coast tour combines a morning on the lagoon with the monuments of Mahabalipuram. For a closer day trip, see Vedanthangal or Ousteri Lake, and our bird watching page.
Frequently asked questions
When can you see flamingos at Pulicat Lake?
Flamingos are usually present from about November to March, with the highest numbers typically from mid-December to February. Exact numbers and locations vary each year.
Is there boating at Pulicat Lake?
Yes. Local fishermen in Pulicat village take visitors out in their boats; there is no large government boat house. Agree the route and rate before you set off and ask for life jackets.
How far is Pulicat from Chennai?
Pulicat village is about 55 km north of Chennai, roughly 1.5–2 hours by road depending on traffic.
Is Pulicat Lake in Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh?
Both. The southern part around Pulicat (Pazhaverkadu) is in Tamil Nadu, while most of the lagoon lies in Andhra Pradesh. Each state protects its part as a bird sanctuary.