Sunday, October 11, 2015

Mudaliarkuppam Boat House

Mudaliarkuppam Boat House
Mudaliarkuppam Boat House, also known as Raindrop Boat House, is a water sport facility located on the East Coast Road, 36 km to the south of Mamallapuram and 92 km from Chennai & 58 Kms from Pondicherry. It was developed by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation on the Odiyur lake back waters. It has rowing, cruising, speed boating, waters scooting and kayaking facilities.


In 2007, Mudaliarkuppam Boat House became the first of the eight boat houses of Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation to offer water scooters. The boat house organizes motor boat trips to the beach island located in the Odiyur Lake.
Mudaliarkuppam attracts of tourists from all parts of the country. It is located in the district of Kanchipuram, 92 km from Chennai and 36 km down Mamallapuram on ECR (East Coast Road). Mudaliarkuppam is an incredible tourist destination. Visitors and tourists visit this place alike, to while away their time on the choicest array of row boats, pedal boats and motorboats. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation undertakes and preserves this unusual boating house.
Activities
In fact, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation came up with new ideas and policies to make it even more attractive. Recently, they have launched a special boat riding facility at its Raindrop Boat House in Mudaliarkuppam. It is called kayak, the one-seater boat. At present there are fifty-four varieties of boats. The Boat rides include two/Four-seater pedaling boats, Two/Four seater Rowing Boats, Speedboats, Motorboats and one-seater Kayaks(Self Rowing). Special boat races are organized every year within this vast spread of backwater. College and university students participate here with great enthusiasm and unison. There is an island approximately 4 km from the Raindrop Boat House, in the expanse of the waters in Mudaliarkuppam.
Tourists are allowed to spend some time in the island and tents are available for this purpose. There is a snack bar where one can have light refreshments, beverages. Lunch and other refreshments are prepared against orders in advance. In order to enjoy the famed boating bonanza, tourists need to pay a specific amount of money, depending on the type of boat and duration of time. At present, it is recorded that Mudaliarkuppam attracts an approximate decent crowd of five hundred to Thousand tourists on Sundays and other holidays. Two new six seater Banana Boats are expected to be put for tourists use.


The boat house offers water sports like Banana Boating, Water Scooter, Kayaking, Speed boat ride and there is an array of boats like row boats, pedal boats, water scooters, speed boats and many more.  People often prefer banana boat ride and the boat will speed up to 25 Kmph and beware while your boat taking turns. Another pleasant ride could be Kayaking and enjoy ride on single seater kayaks hours together.
Enjoy a relaxing boat ride which can be extended up to Beach Island through backwaters and experience the mind blowing view of sparkling deep turquoise blue water, boat propelling on the still water with rhythmic sound of splashing water, powder blue skies punctuated with white cotton candy clouds, dazzling sunlight, swaying palm trees, wind tussling through the green leaves; as the landscape glides by and one has to fight the urge to take a nap in such idyllic surroundings.  The boat ride will bring relaxation to body and the mind will be clear and uncluttered.
The geographical features of Coramandel coast especially the East Coast Road attracts many native and migratory bird species during October to March. If any one likes birds and just want to be able to approach and watch them closely, Mudaliarkuppam backwaters is one of the hot spot to watch birds. Commonly found bird species include brahminy kite, brown headed gull,   greater flamingo, Indian skimmer, osprey,   painted stork, slender billed gull, stone curlew, white bellied sea eagle etc. Bird photography, especially migratory bird photography can be quite challenging.



In total Mudaliarkuppam is the wonderful picnic spot where one can spend some quality time with family members, relatives and friends. Though the place is located in East Coast Road (way to Mamallapuram and Pondicherry) at a distance 92 kms from Chennai, the picnic spot is enjoyable and worth visiting. This Boat House could be visited throughout the year.
Fauna
This is a very good birding area where one can see: white bellied sea eagleospreyIndian skimmerslender billed gull, brahminy kite, brown headed gullpainted stork and stone curlew. There are also jackalIndian hareBengal monitor, sea fans, turtles & Russel's viper
Backwaters
Mudaliarkuppam backwaters are a brackish water lagoon adjacent to the Bay of Bengal on the East Coast Road. This is yet another haven for wading birds and migratory ducks. The habitat consists of coastal water mudflats, sand banks and salt pans.
Highlights: Hundreds of greater flamingos can be spotted here throughout the year. Thousands of migratory ducks, terns and waders can also be spotted during winter months.
The resident birds seen here include little cormorantspot-billed pelicanlittle grebecommon kingfisherpied kingfisherwhite-breasted kingfisher, little green or striated heron, pond heron and red-wattled lapwing.
Tariffs