' The gentle winds kiss our sun warmed face,
and the rippling waters a lullaby to the ears
with every wave, it sets a pace
steadily rocking us, as we look afar ...
We see shades of blue, so many all around...
of waters that sparkle that reach and meet,
the skies with fluffy clouds that float about ...
And, then...
the green treetops wave at us to swiftly pass... '
This is the scene one experiences for two hours when you take a boat ride at Pichavaram, near Chidambaram in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. Pichavaram mangrove forest is the world's second largest mangrove forest in the world, after The Sunderbans and lies between The Vellar and The Coleroon estuary. This estuary is separated by a sand bund before joining The Bay of Bengal, to form this beautiful waterscape. The area cover of this picturesque place is about 1100 hectares of bright blue waters and fresh green mangrove trees.
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| The dense forests and the waterways |
The ideal way to enjoy this place is through boat rides. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation operates both rowboats and motorboats every day between 9.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Charges for the rides as on Dec'17
2 seater rowboat - 220/- for 2 kms/2 hours
4 seater motor boat - 400/- 5kms/2 hours
8 seater motorboat - 800/-/2 hours
A motorboat ride is best suited as it ventures deep into the thick mangrove jungles, giving us an experience worth every penny spent. This place also is a sanctuary for more than 200 species of migratory and native birds and can be best spotted during the months of November to March. There are numerous routes the boat can take, and on an extra tip, the boatman makes the ride even more adventurous by gliding through low lying branches for us to duck and scrape through narrow natural tunneled waterways giving us a trip to cherish and memories to sojourn.
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| My son taking pictures of the tunnels we crossed. His picture is featured above. |
How to reach - The travel on East Coast Road is a lovely drive along the shores if traveling from Chennai. It is about 76km from Pondicherry. Pichavaram can also be visited as a trip from Chidambaram. Chidambaram is well connected by both road and rails.
Where to stay - Hotels in and around Pondicherry and Chidambaram are the best options to stay while visiting this scenic place.
