Koolipalayam Reservoir, Sarkar Periyapalayam, Tirupur

Koolipalayam Reservoir, Sarkar Periyapalayam, Tirupur

Koolipalayam Reservoir is a major water body towards the north of Tiruppur. This Reservoir is also called as Sarkar Periyapalayam Reservoir or Nanjarayan Tank and is used to store water for irrigation. This tank is a home for several inland and migratory birds for centuries. More than a hundred native and migratory species of birds can be seen at this reservoir. The bird species which can be seen here include Darters, Painted Storks, and Grey Herons, Yellow Wattled lapwings, Common Snipes, Egrets, Spot Billed Ducks and several others. The Nallaru River is a major source of water to this Reservoir.

Nanjarayan Tank is a 440 acre reservoir in the outskirts of Tirupur town, near Koolipalayam, off Uttukuli Road. It is officially known as “Koolipalayam Reservoir” or “Sarkar Periyapalayam Reservoir”. The water source is the Nallar River, flowing from the Avinashi Big Tank and few sewage canals, carrying the effluents and sewage from Tirupur town. Eventually the water level has never come down due to the above sources.

Geographical Position

Koolipalayam Reservoir in Tiruppur is located at 11°07'59.8"N 77°23'15.2"E or 11.133277, 77.387546.

History

This tank is over 400 years old and is also called as Nanjarayan Tank as it had been constructed by King Nanjarayan who had ruled these parts several hundred years ago. This reservoir had been maintained by several other kings and rulers due to its importance in helping agriculture and water level in the surrounding areas.

Flora & Fauna

The flora and fauna of this tank attracts as many as 135 species of birds from all over. Inland birds like Spot-billed Pelicans, Painted Storks, Spoonbills, Black Headed Ibis, Darters, Grey Herons, Purple Herons, Intermediate Egrets, Little Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Indian Pond Herons, Little Heron, Black capped Night Herons, Cormorants, Spot-billed Ducks, Little Grebes, Black Winged Stilts, Common Moorhens, Common Coots, Purple Swamphens, White-breasted Waterhens, Common Snipes, Red-wattled Lapwings and Yellow Wattled lapwings are residing in the tank throughout the year.

It also brings in a huge number of species from other parts of the World during the winter. Starting from November, every year, various birds flock in to Nanjarayan Tank and spend their winter and leave back to their home by the end of March. Northern Shovelors, Northern Pintails, Garganey, Common Teals, Ruff, Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Redshank, Little Stint, Little Ringed Plover, Lesser Sandplover, Black-tailed Godwits,  Green Sandpipers, Rosy Starlints, Yellow Wagtails and Citrine Wagtails  come in huge numbers.

Apart from the above, the green cover around the Nanjarayan Tank serves as a home for birds like Blue Tailed Bee-eaters, Rufus Treepies, Koels, Coucals, Bay-backed Shrikes, Pied Kingfishers, Common Kingfishers, White-throated Kingfishers, Laughing Dove, Rock Pigeons, Eurasian Collared Dove, Rose ringed Parakeets, Brahminy Kites, Booted Eagles, Black Kites, Drongo, Pied Bushchats, Warblers, Munias, Barn Swallows, Swifts, Hoopoe, Spotted Owlets, Ashy Priniya, Pied Cuckoos and Indian Rollers.