Tharakan's Mayura Thottam, Ottapidaram, Thoothukudi

Tharakan's Mayura Thottam, Ottapidaram, Thoothukudi

Tharakan's Mayura Thottam is a large peacock garden situated at Ottapidaram, about 25 km north-west of Tuticorin, in Tamilnadu. As the name suggests it is owned by Mr. P.V. Joseph Tharakan. Spread over 55 acres and covered with guava and coconut groves, this garden is home to over 350 peacocks. This farm is having about 1,500 coconut trees, 1,000 guava trees and 50 mango trees apart from sapota trees. These peacocks eat anything from guava fruits to insects to small snakes. You'll find them strutting about a lot during the rainy season. During summer, they're usually on top of trees and very hard to spot.

Mayura Thottam is an ideal place for bird watchers. Large numbers of tourists visit the place every year. October and November is the best time to visit during which one can see the peacocks spread out their colorful feathers and dance everywhere. Tharakan's Mayura Thottam is registered with the Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation under the Bed and Breakfast scheme. Accommodation facilities are provided to about 50 people.