In Karnataka, near Mysore is the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary. A group of six islets by the River Kaveri, every year the sanctuary becomes home for thousands of migratory birds coming from as far as North America, Eurasia and Australia in search of warmer temperatures to nest, lay eggs and raise their little ones. Measuring just a little over half a square kilometre, Ranganathittu is tiny, but this little spot is one of the best places in the country for birdwatching, especially when in comes to aquatic birds.

Even as I was walking on the pebbled path that led to the river, unmelodious screeches assaulted my ears. Knowing that the cacophony had to be caused by the birds, I let the sound guide me to the riverside. Once there I stopped in my tracks, awestruck by the scene ahead. In the river were islands filled with tall grass, gangly trees and green shrubs. On the islands, and covering most of the sky, were hundreds of birds flying in and out, filling the air with their calls.

I booked a boat ride that promised to take me closer to the birds. A crocodile perched on a rock, basking in the warm morning sun, yawned as we passed by; a bit of fish still stuck to one of its teeth. Though our boat glided quite close to the islands, the uncaring birds went about their lives. Birds, ducks and geese, I called them all; and soon I learnt their names.

Darters, spoonbills, cormorants, painted storks, herons, river terns, egrets, kingfishers- they were all busy feasting on the yummy river fish, building their nests, screaming above the screeches of their little ones, fighting with their neighbours, or showing themselves off to attract attention. The most magnificent of the birds were the painted storks, whose colourful plumage and size (their wing-span is over a meter!) made all other birds appear sober in comparison. Seemingly aware of the attention they evoked, some painted storks stood on rocks, flaunting their feathers.

A cormorant flew by so close that I could have stretched my hand and touched it. I wondered if one of the birds flying overhead would decide my head was a rock and perch on it. The gentle rhythm of the boat, the gurgling river, fish splashing in the water, birds diving into the water and flying out fish in beak, everything seemed surreal. I felt I was inside a picture-story book with the guide’s voice continually narrating stories about the birds.

Ranganathittu is magical and transports you to a different world, a world inhabited by the winged ones in which you are just an observer. Here memories come uninvited swimming down the river or riding on the bird’s wings, leaving you with much peace and happiness.