A farm for the national bird near Tuticorin

 

Recently in Ottapidaram (TN) 

MOST of us haven't seen even one peacock dance. Can you imagine what it would be like to watch more than a 100 of them spread out their colourful feathers and sway to the sound of music.

Just 25 km northwest of the port-town of Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu is a small village called Ottapidaram, the birthplace of freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, also regarded as the father of the Indian shipping industry. Today, Ottapidaram has another claim to fame: a large peacock garden that is yet to be a part of any tourist itinerary. 

Welcome to Tharakan's Mayura Thottam, the garden of peacocks, where over 200 of the birds greet you every morning. "It is terrific to hear hundreds of peacocks scream every morning," said Mr P.V. Joseph Tharakan, the owner of the garden. "For a layman, the sound would be unbearable. But we have got used to it, having heard it for the last 25 years." 

The peacocks have made the 55 acres of Mr Tharakan's farm, with guava and coconut groves, their natural habitat. They remain within the farm and feed on fruits and vegetables grown inside.

The small stretch from National Highway 45B to Mayura Thottam is a bumpy ride. But once inside, it's an altogether different world. The birds, which can be heard from all directions, are everywhere — on the trees, walking past you, some even dancing. 

Mr Tharakan came from Kerala 25 years ago to Ottapidaram to develop a coconut farm in the dry belt, with a fluctuating annual rainfall between 45 cm and 65 cm. Then, there were only a couple of peacocks. However, in the last two decades, the bird population on the farm has grown to over 200, he said.

The peacocks can be found here all through the year. During October and November, one can see them dance everywhere. 

According to Mr Tharakan, peacocks are friendly birds. For instance, Baba (name of a peacock) comes flying when called by any of Tharakan's family members. The big bird has been in the farm for more than 20 years. Another interesting feature is that the peacocks are alert, and make a peculiar noise when there is an intruder on the farm, he said. 

Mr Tharakan, who is assisted on the farm by one of his sons, Mr Rajesh Tharakan, a graduate, wants to make Mayura Thottam a major tourist destination in the region. The idea is to generate continuous revenue to conserve the peacocks. 

The bird population has also been under threat from poaching; quite often eggs have been stolen. The solution lies in barbed wire fencing and for this, funds are required, he said. "We have sacrificed our yield from the farm for peacocks. We want to protect the birds," he said. 

According to Mr Tharakan, State government officials had earlier visited the farm, which is now registered with the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation under the Bed-and-Breakfast scheme. Officials from the United Nations Development Programme and the District Collectorate have also visited the farm. However, no follow-up action has been taken so far. 

For bird watchers, Mayura Thottam is an ideal place, said Mr Tharakan. Boarding and lodging can be provided to about 50 people. There are also many places of tourist interest in the region; one such place of historical interest is Panchalankurichi. The small village has a small fort of Kattabomman, a legendary Indian king known for his valour and courage when he defied the British rulers. 

Other tourist attractions in the region include Tiruchendur, famous for its seashore temple of Lord Muruga; Ettayapuram, the birthplace of Tamil poet Subramaniya Bharathi and Carnatic music legend Muthusamy Dikshitar. Another interesting place is Krishnapuram, which boasts of a temple with exquisite sculptures. Kalugumalai has a rock cut temple and rock face carvings, similar to Ajanta and Ellora.

Posted in: Tourist Information