Thousands of waders and shorebirds, including little stints, greater flamingos and garganey ducks, gather in the Muttukadu to Nemmeli backwaters each autumn. Numbers usually climb through October, the main arrival month, which makes the next few weeks a good time to combine a boat ride at Muttukadu with some birdwatching.
Muttukadu sits on the East Coast Road about halfway between Chennai and Mamallapuram, where the Kovalam backwater meets the sea. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) runs a boat house there. Here is what it offers, what lives in the water around it, and what to keep in mind for safety.
What the boat house offers
The state tourism department’s Muttukadu page lists leisurely boat rides on the backwater, jet ski rentals, and windsurfing classes for beginners and experienced sailors, taught by trainers. TTDC sells boat house rides through its online booking site, and the tourism toll-free line is 1800-425-31111.
Since January 2025 the boat house has also had a two-deck floating restaurant, built by TTDC with a Kochi-based private partner at a cost of about ₹5 crore, DT Next reported. The 125-foot vessel seats at least 100 people, serves buffet meals during a 3 km cruise across the backwater and was announced to run daily from 7.30 am to 11 pm, with advance booking for groups.
We could not find current ride rates on any official page, and the boat house fleet changes over time, so check prices at the counter or call before you go. Expect separate charges for each boat type and for water sports, and for parking.
The birds of the backwater
The Muttukadu backwater is a shallow, tidal stretch of salt pans, mudflats and open water, which is exactly what migrating shorebirds want. A study from July 2021 to March 2023 recorded 124 bird species there, the Environmentalist Foundation of India summarised. Winter visitors include greater flamingos, northern shovelers and ospreys, along with black-tailed godwits and spot-billed pelicans, both listed as near threatened, and curlew sandpipers.
- Best season: October to March, when migrants are present. Flamingos are most often seen in the shallower stretches.
- Best time of day: Early morning or late afternoon, when light is soft and the birds are feeding.
- Where to look: Mudflats along the ECR and the Kovalam to Kelambakkam stretch, from the roadside or the boat, at a respectful distance.
- Bring: Binoculars. Most waders are small and stay well away from the boats.
What protects the wetland, and what does not
The Muttukadu backwater is part of a larger Kovalam to Nemmeli wetland complex of roughly 8,000 to 8,500 acres. A May 2026 hazard assessment by the Wetland Conservation Network puts the Muttukadu portion at about 0.87 sq km and notes that the Wildlife Institute of India lists the system as one of 107 Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas in the country. The same report asks the state to notify the complex as a protected wetland under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, which indicates it has not yet been notified.
The complex is also not among the 100 wetlands identified under the Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission, a list that does include Pulicat and Ennore Creek. The report adds that the backwater absorbs runoff from the OMR catchment and swelled during Cyclones Vardah and Michaung, flooding settlements near the ECR. Conservation groups have also flagged untreated sewage, dumped waste and heavy metals in its sediment.
Construction is the newest pressure. The state is building a ₹525 crore convention centre on 37.99 acres at Muttukadu on the ECR, which the then Chief Minister said in January would open by November 2026, DT Next reported. Fishers and activists have separately raised concerns about unauthorised buildings in the coastal regulation zone around the backwater.
Safety on the water
- Wear the life jacket the boat house provides, buckled, for the whole ride, children included.
- Do not overload boats or stand up in pedal or row boats.
- Do not swim in the backwater or at the bar mouth, where tides and currents are strong.
- Check the weather. During the northeast monsoon, boating is often suspended on heavy-rain and high-wind days. Follow IMD Chennai and district alerts before setting out.
- Keep away from flocks. Ask operators not to drive boats or jet skis into resting birds.
Quick answers
What can you do at Muttukadu boat house?
Boat rides on the backwater, jet ski rentals, windsurfing classes and a floating restaurant cruise, run by TTDC or its partner.
When do flamingos come to Muttukadu?
They arrive with other migrants from about September, and 430 were counted by 30 September 2026.
Is Muttukadu a protected wetland?
It is recognised as an important coastal biodiversity area, but conservation groups say it has not been notified under the 2017 wetland rules.
Is boating open during the monsoon?
Often not on bad-weather days. Call TTDC before travelling.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Muttukadu (Tamil Nadu Tourism)
- TTDC online booking (Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation)
- Kovalam-Nemmeli Coastal Wetland Complex: Climate Change Coastal Hazard Assessment Report, May 2026 (Wetland Conservation Network, via Citizen Matters)
- List of 100 wetlands identified under Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission (TN State Wetland Authority)
- Muttukadu: an evolving bird hotspot (Lakes of India / EFI)
- Dine along the Muttukadu backwaters at Tamil Nadu’s first floating restaurant (DT Next)
- Kalaignar conference hub will be open by November (DT Next)
