If you have enjoyed the serenity of Pondicherry and/or the spiritual bliss at Chidambaram, Pichavaram is a must-visit place. Located just a two-hour road trip from Pondicherry, Pichavaram is a beautiful place that offers a mesmerizing experience of lush green mangrove forest. It is the world’s second-largest mangrove forest after the Sundarbans in West Bengal. These mangroves are home to many creatures, including crabs, needle-fishes, and birds like herons and kingfishers to name a few.
About Pichavaram
Pichavaram mangrove spans over 1478 hectares. It is located between two prominent estuaries, the Vellar estuary in the north and the Coleroon estuary in the south of Cuddalore district. The Vellar-Coleroon estuarine complex forms the Killai backwater and Pichavaram mangroves. It consists of several islands interspersing a vast expanse of water covered with mangroves. The area is separated from the sea by a sand bar making it an enclosed area. This place is listed as an international bird and biodiversity area for its rich variety of flora and fauna.

How to reach
Pichavaram is located 60 km from Pondicherry. So, if you are coming from Pondicherry via public transport, you must go to the Chidambaram bus stand first and then catch an auto or cab. From Chidambaram, you can catch an auto or rent a cab based on your budget as the place is only 15 km away. There is a good parking facility close to the beach. We traveled from Chidambaram to Pichavaram by car in October. The road journey to reach was lonely yet picturesque.
Fishermen
Some fishermen were repairing their fishing nets while some were removing the small fish stuck in their nets. As we meandered around the narrow road, we saw a couple of boats toppled over and men painting them with bright colors. Few roadside vendors were selling seafood as well. The weather was pleasant, and we visited the place at 10 am. The forest is open to the public from 9 am to 4 pm daily. The extensive parking easily accommodates 50+ cars at a time. There was an “I love Pichavaram” board where tourists were clicking pictures.
Do read: Girivalam – Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleshwar Parikrama
Boating at Pichavaram
The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation and the Forest Department are in charge of this place. There is a ticket counter to choose your boat ride. The boat ride rates depend on the choice of boat, number of…
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