After visiting Chidambaram Temple We went to Pichavarum mangrove Forest.It is a must-visit tourist attraction in Chidambaram located only 16km away from the town .Unlike the beaches in India, the mangroves of Pichavaram are not overrun with tourists yet. Not many people have even heard of it, The name ‘Sunderbans’ in Bengal seem familiar, but Pichavaram, at second place doesn’t share the spotlight.
It is a nature’s paradise with mangroves spread over 1100 hectares providing undulated natural views. Lesser known fact is that the Pichavaram mangrove forest is one of the largest mangrove forests in the world! Covering about 1100 hectare of area, it is separated from the Bay of Bengal only by a sand bar.
Other than the flora, the mangroves attract migrant and
local birds including snipes, cormorants, egrets, storks, herons, spoonbills,
and pelicans. About 177 species of birds belonging to 15 orders and 41 families
have been recorded here.
How to See It
The mangrove forest can be explored by row boat or motor boat. Motor boats are ideal for sizable groups, and you'll be able to go all the way to the beach through the mangroves in a couple of hours. However, these boats are too big to fit inside the narrow canals. If you're interested in venturing deep inside the jungle, you'll need to take a row boat. It's well worth it. 
Motor boat costs Rs.1800 whether one single person or 8 max . Manual boat cost Rs400. We bought motor boat ride paying 1800 for five of us. Boat duration is 40 minutes but boatman asked extra 600 for taking ride to narrow lanes ,shooting spots; but everywhere same spot just mangrove trees and nice ride experience. Absolutely Worth it! You get to see some of the deep mangrove flora & fauna. Excellent location for a photo shoot . Boats are well equipped with safety jackets and foldable covers to protect from sunburns (these are normally folded back during narrow canal visits!)
The swinging and swaying of our boat left us exhilarating. The backwaters were alluring and we immersed in its beauty in less than a minute after the ride started.
What is so special about a mangrove?
A Mangrove is a small tree or shrub that grows along coastlines, taking root in salty sediments, often underwater. The word ‘mangrove’ may refer to the habitat as a whole or to the trees and shrubs in the mangrove swamp. Mangroves are flowering trees, belonging to the families Rhizophoraceae, Acanthaceae, Lythraceae, Combretaceae, and Arecaceae. This waterbody is 2800 acres vast expanse. The boatsman who came for us was a mind-blowing person named Sakthivel , he gave me the botanical scientific name of all those varieties!they are - Surappunnai(Rhizophora)Kandal(Avicennia),Vennkandal(AvicenniaMarina)Karungandal(Avicennia Officinalis).
The Rhizophora varities are locally called Surappunnai and they filter the salt content in the water before intaking the water. This Rhizophora varieties reproduce by Viviparous reproduction. That is, the new roots grow from below the branches and they detach themselves from the parent only after they get pretty strong.
The Avicennia varities are locally called Kandal and they take in the salt water and gives out the salt through their leaves. Here reproduction happens by Aerial roots or Pneumatophores. The roots emerge from the soil and grow outwards to the air to absorb oxygen. The types of Avicennia here are Avicennia Marina (Venn kandal) and Avicennia Officinalis (Karungandal).
Mangrove forests stabilize the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides. The intricate root system of mangroves also makes these forests attractive to fish and other organisms seeking food and shelter from predators.
The dense tangle of roots allows the trees to handle the daily rise and fall of tides. Most mangroves get flooded at least twice per day. Mangroves improve the water quality by absorbing nutrients from runoff that might otherwise cause harmful algal blooms offshore.It has a vast expanse of water covered with mangrove forests. It is home to many aquatic bird species.
As you sail deep into the backwater, the first impression that you have is that you are lost in the middle of a sea with water all around. But as you sail further, the mangrove plant begins to appear. Soon you find the waterway becoming narrower with mangroves on both sides.The water here is not that deep or clear and the Mangroves may not be among the beautiful plants, yet it is an experience that you must relish.
Making our way through them is a beautiful experience. As we went deeper into the forests, we got amazed on seeing the fresh green shrubs hanging above the water, long sticks which appeared like the branches of the shrubs actually happens to be the roots! It was an amazing sight to see a number of rare birds fishing in the marshes while we rode past them.
They’re deathly still and soundless, and a bird, spooked by our presence, taking to flight. The canopy of twisted branches above our heads hangs so low that it doesn’t allow one to stand, yet the occasional stream of light on the water lets you look down and see the murky shore bed, below the boat.
The greenery is overwhelmingly soothing and the hum of the gentle wind passing through seems magnified, as do the rustle of the leaves at arms distance, around and above us. It’s as spooky as it is serene – I’ve never experienced anything like it! It has the mystique of a place that’s undiscovered, but you will find one of nature’s most fascinating environments.
On the way boat man showed the unique setting of the mangrove jungle has featured in a number of south Indian movies including Idayakanni (1975), Sooryan (2007), Dasavatharam (2008), and Thupparivalan (2017).
The channels through the mangroves get smaller, deeper, and you have to dovetail to keep the roots from dropping! You'll yell excitedly as the boat runs in calm, dark waters and roots like a tent over your head. At certain points, the roots are very thick and the plant is quite large, it's nearly like a wooden bar wall, sunlight is flowing in here, and the effect is magical!
Sometimes when the sun is weak, the path looks furious, as if it is close to you, as the boat cruises slowly in peace. You wonder if the boat will really navigate through the narrow turns.
This is how mesmerizingly beautiful it gets, you would want to do nothing else other than sit in that boat and go around the mangroves till the end of the day ! The experience turned out to be an awesome one. If you are a nature lover or an eco-tourist, then this destination must feature in your priority list.
PICHAVARAM BOATING TIMINGS
9:00AM to 04:00PM
PICHAVARAM BOAT HOUSE ADDRESS
Pitchavaram Boat House,
AATC Campus, Killai Post,
Chidambaram Taluk,
Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu - 608102
1 comment:
very nice . yes it is a very famous place in tamilnadu but rare visitorsto drive-in. good . government is not doing anything for this kind of unusual places.
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