Karanji Lake

ON Thursday 26th, we went to Karanji Lake, which is inside the boundaries of Mysore City. There were heaps and heaps of waterbirds, especially ibis, pelicans, darters and herons. And ducks. It was a lovely green oasis/haven in the middle of this bustling, high-density city. They have a number of labelled trees showing off the different local species, and there were a few trees familiar to our Australian eyes.
This is a picture of a chameleon. the first one we saw (this is the second) ran off the concrete path where it had been sunning itself and up a tree. It immediately began changing colour. As we drew closer to see better the chameleon moved futher up and around the tree trunk, only to step on another smaller chameleon that had completely taken on the colour of the tree trunk. So close to the trunk colour was teh smaller lizard that we had not noticed it at all. The smaller lizard promptly bit the other chameleon, which sprang into the air and moved further up the trunk

Karanji Lake Park has a HUGE bird enclosure, with very few birds in it. We did see a peacock displaying its tail for about ten minutes while it attempted to intimidate a rabbit. That's right, a small brown domestic rabbit, that was happily chewing away at the grass (near the peacock's bowl of food) and ignoring the peacock's hissing and shaking of tail and turning from side to side. Meanwhile a chipmunk made free of the peacock's food, straight from the bowl.

This is a Lady Amherst Pheasant, the photo doesn't do it justice.

Every where we went in the park there were couples quietly sitting together. The culture generally frowns on public displays of affection between opposite genders. It's ok to hold hands with your same sex friend, or walk along with your arms around each other, but not if its boy/girl. therefore, in every quiet spot in the park young couples sit quietly chatting, maybe giggling, heads together. One or two really outrageous and out-there couples were holding hands. No kissing. No walking about hand in hand.

At the far end of the park there is a small island which is called the Butterly Island. There were many of the species pictured (sorry forgot to get species name)

this is another of the same.

To finish off our time here the boys took a boat ride on the lake, seen here on the other side of the karanji.