Pulicat Lake, Tamil Nadu Sector

Pulicat Lake is India's second largest brackish water lagoon, straddling the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The Tamil Nadu sector lies near the town of Pulicat in Tiruvallur District, about 60 km north of Chennai. Notable for its extensive mudflats, mangroves and as part of the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary, it is a major wintering ground for migratory birds including flamingos.

Visitors to the Tamil Nadu sector can expect a vast, shallow brackish lagoon separated from the Bay of Bengal by the barrier island of Sriharikota. The landscape features open water, mudflats, salt pans and mangrove patches. Visitors can take country boat rides from Pulicat village, observe migratory birds, fishing activities and views of the lagoon. Facilities are basic and the area is best explored during daylight hours.

Pulicat and its lake were the headquarters of Dutch Coromandel (1610-1690) with Fort Geldria built in 1613. The lake served as an important trading port for the Dutch East India Company and later the British. Remnants of Dutch heritage including the fort, cemetery and church remain near the Tamil Nadu shore.

The lake supports traditional fishing communities of Pulicat and Pazhaverkadu. It is culturally significant for local fisherfolk livelihoods, seasonal fishing practices and as a revered natural wetland associated with migratory bird conservation in Tamil Nadu.