Lingambudhi Lake, paradise for birding after Ranganathittu

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Lingambudhi Lake, paradise for birding after Ranganathittu

If you are in Mysore and a Bird Watcher, it is highly unlikely that you wouldn’t give Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary a visit. But the moment you give this place a visit, after seeing the crowd that it attracts, you would wish for a similar place with less or no human touch. Lingambudhi lake offers you exactly that.

Set about 8 km from the heart of Mysore city, Lingambudhi lake is the largest freshwater lake in Mysore. One can easily spot the birds that are available in Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary during the migration period. Migratory birds visit this place in large numbers during winter migration. Various uncommon species of birds can be spotted here e.g. Pelicans, Storks, Ibis, Cormorants, Darters, Indian spot-billed duck, peafowls, minivets, Kingfishers, Brahminy Kite, Blue-cheeked bee-eaters, Malkoha, Tickell’s Blue flycatcher, Hornbills, coots, and many more. It is home to over 250 species of birds.

Spot-billed pelican in flight at Lingambudhi lake

Note: Before you proceed further, you may want to bookmark this blog for future reference.

History:

Mysore Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III built this lake in 1828 in the memory of his Maharani Krishna Vilasa Lingajammanni. Situated in Sirarampura, it is the oldest lake of Mysore.

Other attractions nearby

Lingambudhi Botanical Garden and Lingambudhi Park are the main attractions for non-bird watchers here. It offers a peaceful vibe of a mini but dense forest sitting right next to Rabindra Nath Tagore Layout a residential colony. This place is often visited by morning / evening walkers from the local residencies. It is yet a peaceful location maintained in an unbelievably clean manner.

Things to do

Bird Watching and sight-seeing with blue and green picturesque backdrop.

To preserve the lake for the migratory birds, boating is not offered here, which is a good thing. This allows the lake and the surrounding area to be kept away from human touch.

There is a Bird Watching Tower near the lake for bird watchers to get some eye level shots for birds in flight.

Often one can witness Pelicans giving good flying shots in numbers here.

How to reach

You can look for Lingambudhi park in google maps to reach the entrance to the lake. From the main gate, lake is hardly ten minutes’ walk.

Coordinates for easy ref: 12.274876289397525, 76.61569700686677

Where to Stay

There are numerous options available in and around Mysore city. We chose to stay in Srirangapatnam instead of staying in Mysore. Mayura River view resort, which is situated at the bank of River Kaveri, is a beauty in itself. A dedicated blog coming soon for the resort.

Best Time to Visit

If you are a bird watcher, early mornings or evenings would be an ideal time to freeze birds in your frame. As day progresses, on a normal sunny day, the lake and sky make a perfect combo for a beautiful blue backdrop for some picturesque scene for some wide shots and beautiful self-portraits.

Park is open on all days from 06:00 AM to 05:00 PM.

There is no entry fee to enter the park or reach the lake area.

Best Season to Visit

Mid October to Jan is when the lake gets visited by winter migratory birds.

Mar to April is another good time to visit the lake to see the birds returning for breeding.

Some photos from the Lake

Spot-billed pelicans sunbathing at Lingambudhi Lake, Mysore

Conclusion:

Lingambudhi Lake is a perfect option for bird watching to get the birds in their natural habitat. Plenty of options and a huge area to photograph them. Plus, the dense mini forest around the lake, which is part of the park, is home to numerous bird species.