Pichavaram Backwaters - Mangrove Forest



Pichavaram, the second largest Mangrove forest in the world,  located near Chidambaram, TamilNadu (around 250 Km from Chennai), is a 4 hour drive from Chennai thro' East Coast Road (ECR) via Pondicherry, Cuddalore. The spot, known for backwaters boating, has a TTDC organised boating facility with row boats, which gets inside the forest  (Rs.400 for 4 for 3 hours), as well as motor boats, which covers the beach route along the forest boundary for around 1 hour.

 

The forest houses a variety of birds and different species of trees, which could not be seen else where. If the backwater tides are suitable, one could see fisherwoman catching shrimps in the knee deep waters.

 

There is a restaurant and a bar at the spot and a watch tower, that gives a good bird's eye view of the entire forest and the beach. The climate of the picnic day plays a very important role in deciding the pleasure of the entire boating experience into the dense woods.

 

The boating in the silent waters deep inside the marsh land forests with the lush green trees on either side, is an exciting experience to escape the huzzle and buzzle of the city.