Chennai - Pulicat Lake | Tada - Road Trip

Pulicat Bird Sanctuary

Its been a long time for me after Gudium Caves trip. So, I planned to take a trip towards Pulicat lake which is located in the TN-AP border. So, invited some friends and started the journey on a fine Sunday from Anna nagar, Chennai.

Location: Pulicat Lake / Bird Sanctuary

Direction: NH 5 towards Kolkatta.

There are two three entry points for Pulicat Lake.

1. Tada - A right turn which takes you from the NH5 towards Kolkatta.

2. Sulurpet - A round turn junction road 3km after Sulurpet and there towards Sriharikota.

3. Ponneri - A right turn from NH 5 road towards Ponneri and from there again you have to travel a lot towards the lake.

Pulicat lake is covered in a long way and so the right side of NH 5 will take you to there. But we have to choose the exact path to reduce the unwanted travel.

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From this picture you can see the vast area, which is surrounded by lake. These transmission lines goes to Sriharikota rocket lauchpad.

The location was wonderful but the season which you choose is important. Better try to go in December - March.




The two sides of the road is covered by this lake and the birds.





Great Flamingos are seen here in large numbers.

A few kilometers ahead Sriharikota rocket launching site is there. You can see the prototype of PSLV in the entrance of that site. Public is allowed to visit this site on all Wednesdays.



We were disappointed by the dry weather and the dry lake were we could not see more birds and boating in that spot. Boating can be taken if you choose the Tada route to Pulicat. I mean the first route I have mentioned above. But we choose the second route. We really got tired driving all along in the hot sun.

While returning we planned to go to Tada waterfalls. So, we returned from Sriharikota road again to NH 5 and from there we went to Tada. A right turn has to be taken in that direction of return. The road which goes to Srikalahasti takes you to Tada waterfalls. Its around 20 km from the highway.

Kalki Oneness Temple

There is a lot to travel even after reaching the entrance of the Tada waterfalls. There is a small locality there from there around 5 km has to be traveled in a rough road. There is a parking lot there and the time to visit tada is from 8 to 5pm everyday. Cameras are charged Rs.50 and two wheelers are charged Rs.15.



From that parking space, a lot of distance have to crossed by walk through the forests way. You can witness some streams while walking. Approximately it will take around 1:30 hours to reach the main waterfalls. Its best to go in groups. Please do not litter the place. Its a beautiful place which is being littered by drunkards. Save the beauty of Tada.


We returned to Chennai after enjoying the beauty of Tada waterfalls. Two wheelers are preferable but the distance is very long and there are risks of tyres being punctured. So, better travel in a 4 wheeler in groups and explore the beauty.