Viralimalai Peacock Sanctuary, Trichy
Viralimalai
Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most-visited sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu and
renowned for peacocks which can be seen in their natural habitat. There are a
number of species of peacocks in the sanctuary which is the key reason why
tourists are attracted to this place round the year.
The
Viralimalai sanctuary is located in a small town, at a distance of 30-kms from
Trichy and 40-kms from Pudukkottai. It is famous for its Murugan temple and the
Peacock sanctuary. This scenic town is bestowed with a good number of wild
peacocks, which roam around the Murugan temple.
The
Viralimalai sanctuary is one of the best places to watch peacocks and there are
at least six species of peacock pheasants distributed throughout South East
Asia, though the Palawan Peacock Pheasant or "Tandikan" (Polyplectron
Emphanum) is by far the most spectacularly colored of these beautiful
birds.
The
peacock is India’s national bird, and is one of the most beautiful birds with
its multi-colored plumage. If you like peacocks, then a visit to Viralimalai Peacock
Sanctuary is a must. Viralimalai is a developing town in Tamil Nadu, and is 30
km from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy). Viralimalai is one of the few places
where you can spot peacocks in abundance
The
famous Lord Shanmuganathar Temple is perched on the top of a small rocky hill
in Viralimalai. To reach the temple, you need to climb 210 steps. This Murugan
temple was once a prominent place where the Bharatnatyam dance form flourished;
it boasted of a separate dancer for each of the 32 adavus (dance
movements). The Shanmuganathar Temple’s surroundings and the neighboring
woodlands are home to beautiful wild peacocks.
Today,
Viralimalai town, the Lord Shanmuganathar Temple and the Viralimalai Peacock
Sanctuary have been declared and funded as a Heritage Place by order of the
Governor.
Location
Viralimalai
Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Viralimalai, which is a small town, 30 km from
Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu. The town is also known for its Murugan Temple.
The town is associated with peacocks since times immemorial. Visitors can spot
numerous varieties of India’s national bird amidst the green habitat.
History
Viralimalai
has some natural caverns in the hillock which indicates human habitation from
an early time. There is a Chola temple which shows that the place has a
populace that enjoyed prosperity.
Attractions
Viralimalai
Peacock Sanctuary is one of the ideal places to catch a glimpse of exotic
peacocks in their natural habitat. You will be enthralled when you see a
variety of these graceful birds in assorted colors, roaming freely at this
idyllic sanctuary which is an emerald paradise. As per a local survey,
Viralimalai Peacock Sanctuary is home to six species of peacock from different
parts of India and Southeast Asia too. The species include Malayan
peacock-pheasant, the green peafowl, the white peacock and grey
peacock-pheasant. The most stunning peacock variety is the Palawan Peacock
Pheasant or ‘Tandikan’; these striking birds will electrify you with their
brilliant colors.
The
forest department was feeding these birds but as their numbers increased, they
stopped the practice. As a result, today, the birds, which number over 500,
have spread out over Pudukkottai, so the sanctuary has fewer birds. Your best
chance of spotting the elegant peacocks is at the temple. The temple priests at
the Murugan Temple feed the peacocks daily and a sizeable number show up. As
per local belief, the boulders on the Viralimalai hill are not mere rocks.
Legend has it that they are the agglomeration of bodies of yogis who sat in
penance and attained Samadhi. It is believed that the peacocks here can
identify the ‘yogi rocks’ and those that are purely sedimentary and they choose
only the yogi rocks to perform their magnificent dance and shed their feathers!
The
best time to visit Viralimalai Peacock Sanctuary is between October and April
as this is when the elegant birds come out in full force and display their
magnificent plumage. In anticipation of Tamil Nadu’s winter monsoon, these
magnificent birds emerge, spreading out their spectacular tails and doing a
majestic, mesmerizing dance as thunder rumbles and the skies are pregnant with
rain clouds. It is a bewitching sight, one that will stay etched in your memory
for a long, long time.
The
temple town of Viralimalai is also renowned as being home to an exclusive dance
and drama form, Kuravanji which has an unbroken tradition of two centuries of
performance here.
Authenticating
the relationship and tradition of peacock dance to Barathanattiyam stands true
is the Shanmuganathar temple on top of Viralimalai Sanctuary. Most of the
inhabitants of the village can trace their descent from Isai-vellala
(Melakarar) community. This temple belongs to the Chola dynasty and is still a
prosperous village ever since 9th A.D. The hill is covered with non-thorny
trees mainly Wrightia and is also the place for kuravars who display
their classical Kuravanji dance every year on the hill top inside the
temple court till 1993.
Talking
more about the Indian Peafowl are their variations in colour dividing them into
two subspecies – blue-green and green colored plumage. The peahen or the female
has a mixture of brown, dull green and gray plumage.
Bragg
reflections explains the reason for the vibrant colour changes that one
could observe over a distance of the change in colours which is not because of
the presence of pigments in the feathers rather due to the presence of regular,
periodic nanostructures of barbules which causes changes in colours. Other
types of peacock that could be spotted sometimes are the white
peacock, the black shoulder and the Palawan Pheasant.
These
peacocks which abode in the hills and in the sanctuary area nearby are
omnivorous and eat most parts of plants, seeds, seed pods, petals, leaves and
grass, insects and arthropods, reptiles and amphibians. They usually nest on
the ground and rest on low tree branches, and if they are male peafowl will lay
the beautiful tail touching the ground spreading like a curtain of colours.
One
more variety or species of peacock that could be occasionally spotted in
Viralimalai is the Palawan Pheasant, a species that belongs to the country
of Philippines, Palawan Island which has a beautiful iridescent blue plumage
and has been branded as Vulnerable by IUCN.
Besides
Peacocks, other attractions that you could spot in the Viralimalai Sanctuary
are gazelles, porcupines, panthers, sloth bears and hyenas with the best time
to spot them are in the season of October and April.
A Delightful
Experience for Peacock Lovers
The
popular sanctuary is a paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers. It is a
place known for its amazing tranquility and serene settings. The Viralimalai
Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most visited wildlife sanctuaries, not only in
Tamil Nadu but the entire country. You can spot at least six varieties of
peacocks, all in their natural habitat and regal splendor.
Types
of Peacocks That Can Be Seen Here
According
to a recent survey, the Viralimalai Wildlife Sanctuary is home to six species
of peacock. They come here from different parts of India and also from the
southeast zone of Asia. The Tandikan or Palawan Peacock Pheasant is the most
popular and attractive. They captivate you with their impressive colors and graceful
movements.
The
wildlife visions at the Viralimalai Wildlife Sanctuary can be an experience of
a lifetime, especially the view they offer in the monsoons. The main varieties
of peacocks that may be easily identifiable include the Malayan peacock-pheasant,
the White-colored peacock, the Green peafowl and the dull peacock-pheasant.
Best Time to Visit
The best
season for Viralimalai Wildlife Sanctuary is from October to April.
The Viralimalai Wildlife Sanctuary is crowded with visitors during
this time. Since peacocks look their best while it rains as they tap their feet
to the tipping of the shower, it is preferable to visit the Viralimalai
Wildlife Sanctuary during the monsoon.
There
are two monsoons in Tamilnadu, the normal monsoon as well as a winter monsoon
as nimbus clouds gather overhead to pour heavily. Peacocks at the Viralimalai
Wildlife Sanctuary look the most elegant during this time; hence it is
advisable to visit the Viralimalai Wildlife Sanctuary from during the winter
monsoon from October to April.
If
you want to see the widest variety of peacocks in one place at the same time,
then schedule a visit during the months of November through February.
Accommodation
The Viralimalai
Wildlife Sanctuary accommodates only wild fauna and not human tourists!
Nevertheless, there are lots of hotels and guest houses available in Trichy and
Pudukkottai.
Connectivity
By
Road:
Viralimalai
wildlife sanctuary is approximately 30 kilometer from Tiruchirapalli and 40 km
from Pudukkottai. There are local transportation resources available in the
form of state-run buses and private taxis.
By
Rail:
Tiruchirapalli
junction is a main junction on the southern railway. It connects Chennai,
Chidambaram, Madurai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Kollam, Rameswaram,
Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kochi, Kanyakumari and Mangalore. Pudukkottai is also
well connected by rail with the important places within and beyond the
state.
By
Air:
The
nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli at approximately 30 km.