Oct 09, 2012 02:52 PM
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(Updated Oct 09, 2012 05:31 PM)
Kokkare Bellur – Delight For Bird Watchers
Whenever I visit Mysore, I prefer to visit a beautiful place called Kokkare Bellur, (Vllage of Storks), a small village off the main highway between Bangalore and Mysore. I always like the nature & the sound of birds, serene environment, beautiful colors of birds & last but not the least, this is one of the rare places that show off a wonderful co- existence between humans and nature.
In today’s time when very few people think of the responsibility towards other species on this planet, it is great to see the villagers of Kokkare Bellur are looking after the birds with utmost care. The bonding between humans and pelicans is the beauty of this place.
The villagers consider the birds as good luck and prosperity to the village. This uniqueness has also attracted tourists to the village to watch the birds.
Abot Kokkare Bellur – Natural Bird Sanctuary
Kokkare Bellur is not a reserved forest sanctuary; it’s a small village in Maddur taluk of Mandya district of Karnataka. It is situated near Maddur between the cities of Mysore & Bangalore. The village is one of the 21 breeding sites existing in India.
Kokkare in Kannada language is the “Painted Storks” which are very famous in this region, “Bellur” means, village of jaggery, hence, the village has derived its name from the bird. Kokkare village is on the banks of the river Shimsha, and it is a very beautiful sight to see the birds in their natural habitat when they arrive in the nesting season over here.
The Spot Billed Pelican is an endangered species & hence, the government makes sure that this region takes various measures to protect the natural habitat to encourage the continued migration of the birds. It’s nice to know that Karnataka Forest Department compensates the villagers with a fixed sum of money for each tree that is used for nestling by birds.
Apart from the Pelicans, the other birds found nestling and breeding in the village trees are the Painted Stork, Little Cormorant, Ring necked Parakeets, Black Ibis, Grey Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron and Indian Pond Heron. This place offers a rare chance to spot some of the rare birds at very close distances.
Other Tourists Attractions Near Kokkare Bellur.
There are several tourist attraction places near Kokkare Bellur, Chennakesava Temple built according to the Hoysala Architecture is a must see place. Ranganathittu is another famous bird sanctuary located near Srirangapatna. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Daria Daulat Bagh, Tipu’s summer palace, Gumbuz, Sangam of four rivers, Daria Daulat Bagh, Tipu’s dome, Sangam, are some of the interesting places to see near Srirangapatna.
Few Things to Remember.
The best time to watch the birds is in the early morning or evening. Make sure to bring Camera to capture the beautiful bird pictures & carry binoculars for bird watching.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the village is between the months of December and January. It is during this period that migratory birds flock in huge number to reside in the village for a while.
Accommodation
There is no good accommodation and restaurants available at Kokkare Bellur. Tourists generally prefer staying in Srirangapatna or Mysore. Kokkare Bellur is a one day destination and visitors generally carry food items while visiting the village. It is advisable to carry the required amount of eatables and water.
To Get There
Kokkre Bellur is well connected by road, rail and air transport networks. It is at a distance of 80 kilometres from Bangalore on the Bangalore-Mysore highway. Maddur or Mandya are the closest railway stations & Bangalore is the nearest Airport.
Dear Friends if you have any plans to visit Mysore please do not miss to visit Kokkare bellur, it’s a rare place where one can see & learn the mutual trust & bonding between man and birds. This beautiful village is actually a paradise for those who wish to escape away from the maddening rush of the city life and be with nature as well as themselves for a while.
