In Tamil Nadu, bats mark the change of season

The centuries-old Kailasanathar temple, located in Murappanadu village of Tirunelveli district, is home to a large population of bats. Much like many old monuments across India, several temples in Tamil Nadu are popular roosting sites for bats. In Krishnapuram, for instance, a dark chamber inside a temple echoes with the babble of bats, even as the rest of the premises bustles with devotees preparing meals and conducting puja rituals.

In some temples, bats are deeply intertwined with local folklore. In Murappanadu’s sacred grove, the Inthu Marathu Sudalai temple is believed to be protected by a fierce local deity. People from the village recount the story of a hunter whose attempt to shoot the bats ended fatally when the bullet rebounded, an incident they interpret as divine retribution. The community believes that the deity is safeguarding the bats and the grove.

These temples are just one of the many habitats for bats; they also live in banana plantations scattered around Tirunelveli. These nocturnal creatures have long been part of Tamil Nadu’s culture, and they help farmers predict seasonal patterns.

When bats begin leaving the temple premises, taking flight to fruit trees, it is a sign that the ripening season is near.

The bats that reside in the dense stretches of banana plantations are often referred to as ‘rain bats’ by the farmers, as they fly out from the trees en masse ahead of the monsoon and return only after the wet season is over. The banana cultivators from Gopalasamudram highlight how this helps them predict rainfall. Similarly, in the Aadisthala Guhalaya cave of Kamalashile in Kundapura—home to a significant population of Kolar leaf-nosed bats—they are seen flying out just before the rains arrive, signalling potential flooding.

Bats are also crucial to the ecology of the region. They play a significant role as natural pollinators for plants such as mango, banana, guava, cocoa, avocado, cloves, figs, cashew, coconut, and agave. Their diet includes insects that commonly infest crops, making them a quiet and organic pest control system.

Yet, despite their importance, the bat population appears to be declining.

A primary reason for this is renovation work across temples. In Kallidaikurichi, a guard at Thiruvadurai Madam temple mentions that groups of tourists visit as part of pilgrimage tours, which pushes the authorities in charge to clear out the bats for cleaner premises. Earlier, there used to be a large population of the Indian flying fox in the temple, which has decreased consistently as reconstruction work continues.

Bats are driven out with the help of smoke or even water during big festivals. At Kasiviswanathar temple in Ambasamudram, where Schneider’s leaf-nosed bats once roosted, nets have now been installed to block their entry, informs a researcher from ATREE. However, outside temple walls, the perception of bats is different. A farmer from Kallidaikurichi says, “I have noticed small bats flying around after 6 pm. I know that they eat harmful insects in the field, and are beneficial to agriculture.”

Kangkana Pal works on wildlife conservation and was part of WCS India’s Nature–Culture Fellowship.

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