We as a family relocated to Madras that is now Chennai in May 2025 from Delhi NCR, driven by a desire to explore an entirely new culture and to breathe cleaner air. Since I love nature and peaceful surroundings, we decided to stay away from the congested core of the city. We found just the right place on the banks of the Perumbakkam lake, a home in a leafy locality, directly overlooking the giant water body.
The Perumbakkam lake is spread over about 200 acres and is a vital source of water to residents and farmers nearby. However, rapid and unchecked urbanisation is encroaching upon the lake and there is also proliferation of water hyacinth threatening it.
When I was researching about this area’s history, I came across a lesser-known piece of information. The Great Trigonometrical Survey (GTS) of India was started by Lt Col William Lambton, an English surveyor and geographer, on 10 April 1802 with the measurement of a baseline near Madras. Lambton selected the flat plains between St Thomas Mount at the north end and Perumbakkam Hill (next to the lake) at the southern end. This survey was conducted to create scientifically precise maps of the Indian subcontinent and establish accurate geographical coordinates.
A view of the lake.
Our Chennai home is an ideal choice as we enjoy the lake caressed by gusts of wind all day long. It is framed nicely by swaying palm trees along its bank. What is interesting and magical is that the lake changes hues depending on the time of the day. The most gorgeous time is the sunset. The setting sun reflects in the placid waters with a shimmering golden touch as if a divine painter is going about his job. It is so lovely to see the colours of the sky turn into molten gold, pinkish blue, orange with a dash of grey and then progressively everything turning dark. My little daughter and I watch this bewitching sight together as we marvel at it endlessly from our home’s ample terrace.
Some of the insects found at Perumbakkam.
It is evening time when we thoroughly enjoy looking at birds gliding over us while returning to their nests. As soon as it is about six in the evening, we see a flock of Ibises forming a V and effortlessly gliding overhead back to their homes. I just love their distinctive curved bills. Often, we catch a bunch of Common Swifts with their unique bow like wings, frolicking and darting about with quick changes in direction. Since we have trees all around our home there are enough Bee-Eater birds which perch themselves at a high vantage point and then swoop down quickly to catch an unsuspecting dragon fly or any of the myriad variety of insects that are available on a buffet here. It is amazing to see how it is over in a blink of an eye. We have also seen white-throated Kingfishers many a time with fish in the beak and Cormorants drying their feathers in the sun with both wings spread out in Shah Rukh Khan’s signature pose! In Delhi we never saw such a wide variety of avians.
After moving to Chennai, I met Poochi Venkat (S Venkatraaman), renowned naturalist and insect photographer, at some event. I found his work intriguing and thereafter for some reason I suddenly became more conscious about noticing insects around my home and locality. So, whenever I am cycling, walking or running inside my colony, I notice these gorgeous creatures. I stop and patiently wait for the right moment to click their photos on my i-phone. I often ask him about their names and other related queries. He told me that due to the presence of the lake nearby, the ecosystem of this area is conducive for the insect population.
Since our home has a garden with many bushes, plants and even a guava tree, it is an ideal location for the African Giant Snails. They were super-active and omnipresent during the recent monsoon season. They come in all sizes and there are some really large ones. We got the shock of our lives to see them in every nook and cranny of the garden, backyard and car parking. But now we have got accustomed to these gentle creatures and try not to step on them.
In Gurgaon, near Delhi, we used to stay in a flat far removed from such an abundance of nature, so it took us a while to get used to all this. We are relishing our stay in this cozy cocoon of a home next to Perumbakkam lake. This has given us an opportunity to cherish mother nature from close quarters and we are so glad we came here.