Two-Day Flamingo Festival Begins Near Pulicat Lake, Boosting Ecotourism

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Tirupati: The two-day Flamingo Festival began on a vibrant note on Saturday at Pulicat Lake and the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary near Sullurpeta in Tirupati district. Revived last year after a brief gap, the festival has once again become an annual celebration highlighting the region’s rich natural heritage, biodiversity, and culture. The event coincides with the arrival of thousands of migratory birds, including greater flamingos, which travel from distant regions such as Siberia and the Rann of Kutch, providing a significant boost to ecotourism.

A range of traditional sports and cultural programmes were organised at the Government Junior College grounds. Stalls set up by the tourism department, animal husbandry department, and other agencies drew large crowds. District Collector S. Venkateshwar said the Flamingo Festival has grown into one of India’s leading ecotourism events, attracting visitors from across the country and abroad to the scenic surroundings of Pulicat Lake and the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary.

Sarvepalli MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy and Sullurpeta MLA Nelavela Vijayasri formally inaugurated the festival by flagging off a rally marking the start of the two-day celebrations. Addressing the gathering, Chandramohan Reddy highlighted the ecological importance of the Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, which serves as a nesting ground for a wide variety of migratory birds, including greater flamingos, terns, egrets, seagulls, spoonbills, Asian openbill storks, and the rare grey pelican.

He noted that Nelapattu is one of the largest pelican breeding centres in Southeast Asia and attracts thousands of birdwatchers and researchers every year. The sanctuary’s wetland ecosystem, he added, plays a crucial role in maintaining the region’s ecological balance.

Sullurpeta MLA Vijayasri said Pulicat Lake, India’s second-largest brackish water lagoon, is a vital habitat for migratory birds. She described the lake’s calm waters and surrounding wetlands as a major attraction for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. Vijayasri also pointed to nearby tourist destinations such as the Atakanithippa Bird Museum, BV Palem boating point, Irukkum Islands, and Ubbalamadugu waterfalls, which together enhance visitors’ experience of the area’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.