Pichavaram: The mangrove forests

When we get out of the glass bottle of our ego and when we escape like the squirrels in the cage of our personality and get into the forest again, we shall shiver with cold and fright. But things will happen to us so that we don’t know ourselves. Cool, unlying life will rush in.

– D. H. Lawrence

Pichavaram is the great for boating, mangrove watching, bird watching, with a picturesque island. It ranks among the most exquisite scenic spot with abundant and varied tourism resources.

Pichavaram is the site of one of India's largest mangrove forests. Situated approximately 280 kms south of Chennai and very near to the temple town Chidambaram. Pichavaram is known for it's unique mangrove ecosystem, found in areas such as the Sunderbans in West Bengal and in Australia.

The Mangrove trees

The Pichavaram mangroves are considered among the healthiest mangrove occurrence and the second largest in the world. Mangroves are plants that grow in the intertidal zone in tropical and subtropical climates. Mangroves are important ecologically as they help in reducing metallic contamination and protect the coast from storms and Tsunamis.

The mangrove roots cut the large intertidal zone into small streams and reduce the wave energy thus creating a calm and quiet region which sustains a large and varied plant and animal life. It also makes it easier for us to travel amidst these placid streams. You need to be no intrepid explorer to venture into the mangroves of Pichavaram and yet the experience is so different from the normal tourist visits, there is the thrill of exploration.

These lush mangrove forests are in the backwaters formed by the Coleroon and Vellar river systems. Pichavaram consists of a large number of small islands and is about 2500 acres. It is separated from the Sea by a sand bar and the sight of the sea beyond the bar is breath taking. The whole area is absolutely scenic.

The best time to visit is in the early morning or late evening watching the sunset and the birds come home. The Pichavaram mangroves attract an appreciable bird population of residents, local migrants and true migrants. The best time for birds is from September to April every year. Peak population of birds could be seen from November to January. This is due to high productive nature (in terms of prey organisms) of the ecosystem and coincidence of the time of arrival of true migrants from foreign countries and local migrants from their breeding grounds across India.

The place shot to fame with MGR's "Idayakanni". Since then, Sharath Kumar has shot there for "Sooryan", Prabhu has been there and miscellaneous governors, bureaucrats and politicians.

HOW TO REACH PICHAVARAM?

Road:

Pichavaram is 16km from Chidambaram and at a distance of 56-km from Cuddalore. Chidambaram is well connected to Chennai, Pondicherry, and other cities of India. From Chidambaram, you can find local taxi or buses to reach Pichavaram.

Rail:

The nearest railway station is Chidambaram from where it is accessible by road.

Air:

The nearest airhead is Tiruchirapalli, 168 kms from Chidambaram.

ACCOMMMODATION:

• There's no place to stay at present, but there would hardly be reason to stay overnight at Pichavaram unless one wants to study the mangroves extensively or try to commune with nature.
• One has to stay at Chidambaram and reach Pichavaram, which is about 16 kms from Chidambaram.