Ousteri Lake (Puducherry Side)

Ousteri Lake, also known as Ossudu Lake, is a large freshwater lake located about 10 km west of Puducherry city on the Puducherry-Tamil Nadu border. Spread over approximately 800 hectares, it is a man-made reservoir and a notified Bird Sanctuary and Important Bird Area. Notable for its wetland ecosystem, seasonal migratory birds, and boating facilities on the Puducherry side, it offers a tranquil natural setting for birdwatching and leisure.

Visitors can expect a broad, shallow freshwater lake surrounded by wetlands, open water, and scrub vegetation. On the Puducherry side, there is a designated boat house with pedal and row boating, earthen bunds and viewpoints for birdwatching and photography, and open areas for sightseeing and nature walks. The environment is calm and natural, with opportunities to observe resident and migratory waterbirds, especially during winter months.

Ousteri Lake is a man-made lake originally created as a reservoir to meet irrigation and drinking water needs of the Puducherry region. Over time it developed into an important wetland ecosystem and was notified as a Bird Sanctuary by the Government of Puducherry for conservation of its avifauna.

The lake supports local livelihoods through fishing and irrigation and is valued as an important ecological and recreational site for nature education and leisure for residents and visitors of Puducherry.